Progress in rail reform

This public inquiry has concluded. The inquiry report was released by the Commonwealth Government on 13 April 2000.

The Productivity Commission was asked to report on progress in rail reform. The inquiry covered freight and passenger rail systems and urban, intrastate and interstate rail operations.

The inquiry was required to identify reforms already made within the rail industry and to identify any further initiatives which may be beneficial. In particular, this inquiry examined:

• current structure of the rail industry in Australia
• nature of recent reforms and their implications, including access arrangements
• strengths and weaknesses of the Australian rail industry, drawing on international and intermodal comparisons as appropriate
• impediments which constrain the efficiency and performance of the industry
• implications for rail and the economy generally of regulations, charges and arrangements affecting competing and complementary modes of transport
• changing role of the Commonwealth, States and the private sector
• implementation strategies for measures that could be taken to remove impediments to improved efficiency and performance.