THE Federal and Queensland Government have agreed to investigate incorporating.

On 25th February, Deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss and Queensland Transport and Main Roads Minister Scott Emerson announced an investigation into expanding the ARTC’s 8,500km national network to incorporate Queensland’s regional rail network.

The ARTC was created as a one-stop shop for Commonwealth and State Governments in 1997 and is responsible for 8500kms of track in Australia.  This includes a 94km section between the NSW border and Acacia Ridge, which was transferred to the ARTC in 2010.

Mr Emerson said ARTC officers would begin working with Queensland Rail staff immediately and would report back to the Queensland and Federal governments by mid-year.

The Queensland rail freight network includes about 6600km of track outside south-east Queensland.