For every 1% of freight shifted from truck to rail nationally, an average of $71.9m would be saved annually in terms of environmental damage, road conditions and pollution-related health outcomes.For every 1% of freight shifted from truck to rail nationally, an average of $71.9m would be saved annually in terms of environmental damage, road conditions and pollution-related health outcomes.
The popularity of trucking has emerged alongside underinvestment in tracks on key corridors and significant roads spending that means large B-doubles can complete some key trips faster. Rail services are 30-40% slower than road and the industry believes door-to-door prices – which includes transport from origin and destination to rail tracks – need to be 20-40% lower to remain competitive with trucks.However, the research found that for each 1% of freight shifted from truck to rail nationally, an average of $71.9m would be saved annually in terms of environmental damage, road conditions and pollution-related health outcomes.