Mark Carter

THE AUSTRALIAN state of Victoria has allocated more than $A 24bn ($US 22.4bn) for investment in infrastructure, including up to $A 14.5bn for major rail projects, as part of its budget for the 2014-15 financial year which was announced this week.

THE government of the Australian state of Victoria has committed to the construction of a heavy rail link connecting central Melbourne with the city's airport, 23km to the north at Tullamarine, although it has not indicated how much it will cost or when it will open.

AUSTRALIAN transport logistics group Qube Holdings has announced a $A 50m ($US 45.4m) investment in a new multi-user export grain handling facility at Port Kembla, New South Wales, and in new rail equipment to service the facility.

THE 5.6km extension of the Sydney's light rail network to Dulwich Hill was formally opened on March 27 by New South Wales state premier Mr Barry O'Farrell and minister for transport Mrs Gladys Berejiklian.

AUSTRALIA's federal government and the state of Queensland have agreed to investigate the possibility of incorporating the residual Queensland Rail (QR) narrow gauge regional rail network into the national network.

THE first services have operated over the $A 291m ($US 260m) Seaford extension in South Australia, coinciding with the introduction of the first electric suburban services on the Adelaide Metro network.

ANNOUNCING financial and operating results for the first half of its 2013-2014 financial year, Australian rail and port operator Asciano, the parent company of the PN Coal and PN Rail freight businesses, says it will undertake a major restructuring and reintegration of these two divisions from July 1.

AUSTRALIAN rolling stock supplier Bradken could face a fine of up to $A 850,000 ($US 756,000) for overseeing the import of two diesel locomotives from CSR Ziyang, China, that were subsequently found to be contaminated with asbestos.

BHP Billiton has abandoned previously-announced plans for a 250km single-user standard-gauge railway linking its Bowen Basin coalfields in northern Queensland with expanded port facilities at Abbott Point.

The Western Australian capital city of Perth is experiencing rapid population growth which is placing ever greater demand on its public transport infrastructure. Regional editor Mark Carter considers the current state of play for the city's rapid transit ambitions.