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| Working paper 74 - Moving urban Australia: can congestion charging unclog our roads? | October 2008 |
| This report reviews the case for congestion charging and provides a policy framework for assessing charging systems. At this time, congestion charging schemes are still in their infancy and evolving in concert with changing policy priorities and system technologies. While individual circumstances determine when and where congestion charging is in the interest of the wider community, some important general lessons can be drawn. |
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| How do fuel use and emissions respond to price changes? Briefing - 1 | August 2008 |
| The first in a new series of BITRE publications, this briefing reviews the responses that have been seen in Australian transport to recent fuel price rises (vehicle sales moving to smaller, more fuel efficient cars, more urban public transport, etc). The responsiveness of the various transport sectors is reviewed, as is the responsiveness of Australia relative to the United States. |
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| Working Paper 70.2 - Ex-post economic evaluation of National Highway projects, Case Study 2: Northam Bypass | August 2007 |
| BTRE's ex-post road investments evaluation project involves systematically reviewing after the fact the projected costs and benefits of major investments. The project complements the recent implementation by jurisdictions of the ATC-endorsed National Guidelines for Transport System Management in Australia. In particular, the project is intended to benefit both future project appraisal and future ex-post evaluation under AusLink and more generally. This analysis was one of the case studies undertaken for the BTRE ex-post road investments evaluation project. The case study provided an example of how to undertake an evaluation of a bypass project involving an improved treatment of delay effects at intersections using the Main Roads Western Australia's WARES evaluation software. |
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| Working Paper 70.1 - Ex-post economic evaluation of National Highway projects, Case Study 1: Wallaville Bridge | June 2007 |
| This analysis is the first in a series of case studies undertaken for the BTRE ex-post road investments evaluation project. The project complements the recent implementation by juristictions of the Australian Transport Council endorsed National Guidelines for Transport System Management in Australia. In particular the project is intended to benefit both future project appraisal and future ex-post evaluation under Auslink and more generally. |
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| Report 114: Optimising Harmonisation in the Australian Railway Industry | September 2006 |
| The past decade has seen Australian rail transformed in terms of ownership, operational and technical advances. This report reviews the theory and the practice of physical and regulatory harmonisation in Australia and overseas. It also explores the benefits and costs of harmonisation and the concept of optimal harmonisation. |
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| Report 110: Risk in Cost-Benefit Analysis | April 2005 |
| For cost-benefit analyses (CBA) of public-sector projects, a common misconception is that the discount rate should include a risk premium in consonance with the private-sector practice of doing so. In examining the issue, this report addresses different types of risk separately including downside risk, which arises from optimistic bias in forecasts and pure risk, which is the variation remaining around the mean after removing downside biases. |
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| Information Sheet 23 - Public Road-Related Expenditure and Revenue in Australia (2004 update) | October 2004 |
| The total amount of road-related expenditure by the Australian, State, Territory and Local Governments in 2001-02 was $7.6 billion. Between 1998-99 and 2001-02 road-related expenditure increased by an average of $99.4 million per year. Over this period Commonwealth and State government road-related expenditure increased while Local government road-related expenditure decreased |
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| Working Paper 58 - Investment Trends in the Lower Murray-Darling Basin | October 2003 |
This paper looks at differing investment and growth patterns of irrigation dependent regions along the course of the Murray River. It derives estimates of investment in irrigated agriculture and in the associated manufacturing industries in the regions and then identifies the key underlying causes of regional differences.
The paper shows the importance of governments embracing water management policies that allow users to have confidence in the reliability of supply and an ability to trade in entitlements. It also shows how these policies can build strong, competitive industries that then sustain prosperous and vibrant communities. |
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| Working Paper 56 - State Spending on Roads | June 2003 |
| Over the last few years, the Commonwealth has devoted considerable resources to the task of helping local government authorities maintain and upgrade their road systems. The major initiative was an extra $1.2 billion in road funding paid directly to councils through the Roads to Recovery programme but federal authorities have also been directed to work with their local government counterparts to improve road policies and practices. |
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| Working Paper 57 - Land Transport Infrastructure Pricing: An Introduction | June 2003 |
| At the Australian Logistics Council (ALC) meeting on 7 November 2002, the Council asked BTRE to provide a comparative analysis of current land transport pricing regimes and their objectives and to present the findings at the next Council meeting, held on 27 February 2003. This working paper comprises the paper prepared for the ALC and already released by the ALC as a discussion paper. |
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| Working Paper 54 - Regional Public Transport in Australia: Economic Regulation and Assistance Measures | April 2003 |
Regional public transport plays an important role in meeting the needs of Australians living in regional and remote areas for access to essential services and for mobility. This paper provides information on Commonwealth, State and Territory government regulatory arrangements and assistance measures relating to regional public transport in 2001-02.
A companion paper, Regional public transport in Australia: Long-distance services, trends and projections (Working Paper 51), provides information on long-distance regional public transport services in Australia, and includes a snapshot of all such services across Australia in 2000-01 and the level of demand and characteristics of regional passenger travel. |
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| Working Paper 53 - Improving Transport on the Warringah Peninsula: Issues And Options | January 2003 |
| Warringah is an established area of Sydney with more limited transport options than are available to residents of other areas of the city. In this study BTRE has sought to analyse the key transport issues and to identify potential improvement options in the context of these issues. The study does not provide definitive analysis of any option. |
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| Working Paper 49 - Logistics in Australia: A Preliminary Analysis | October 2001 |
| This Working Paper presents the results of preliminary BTE work on logistics in Australia. It is the first part of a longer-term project on logistics. The Working Paper develops a framework for analysing logistics in Australia, and examines several issues raised by the Secretariat for the Freight Transport Logistics Industry Action Agenda. |
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| Working Paper 44 - Spending on Local Roads | February 2001 |
| Local roads are considered by regional communities to be a major contributor to their prosperity and social amenity. This report presents the first detailed picture of local road spending at the regional level. |
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| Report 103: Economic Costs of Natural Disasters in Australia. | January 2001 |
| Natural disasters affect every State and Territory in Australia. Good information on the costs of natural disasters is required to assess the effectiveness of expenditure on disaster mitigation. This study focuses on national economic costs, using data from the Emergency Management Australia (EMA) database, over the period 1967 to 1999. The project developed a preliminary framework for estimating the economic cost of natural disasters. Key findings were that costs varied substantially across states; and floods, storms and cyclones are the most costly natural disasters in Australia. The report also identifies limitations to the data on natural disasters, such as the difficulty of calculating intangible losses, and suggests areas of future research. |
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| Working Paper 45 - Brisbane to Melbourne Rail Link: Economic Analysis | October 2000 |
| The Minister for Transport and Regional Services asked the Bureau of Transport Economics to undertake a benefit-cost analysis of the inland rail link between Melbourne and Brisbane being proposed by Australian Transport & Energy Corridor Ltd (ATEC). The analysis relies significantly on information gathered recently for a pre-feasibility study carried out for ATEC. |
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| Report 101: Regional Impact of Ports | March 2000 |
| This report presents the results of a Bureau of Transport Economics project on the regional impact of ports. It includes a general framework for undertaking port impact studies in Australia and a case study that applies the framework to the Port of Fremantle, Western Australia. By measuring both direct and flow-on effects, the case study estimated that the Port of Fremantle was responsible for 0.8% of all employment in Western Australia, with a value added contribution of 0.9% to Western Australia's Gross State Product. |
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| Report 100: Facts and Furphies in Benefit-Cost Analysis: Transport | November 1999 |
| Benefit-cost analysis (BCA) is a valuable and widely used tool. To reduce the odds of misuse, this report probes some important methodological issues, especially as they relate to transport projects. The discussion is relatively non-technical and draws on case studies. |
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| Working Paper 40 - Competitive Neutrality Between Road and Rail | September 1999 |
| If the Commonwealth Government's new tax system (ANTS), and associated legislation such as the Diesel and Alternative Fuels Grants Scheme Bill 1999, had been in place in 1998-99, average input costs for interstate non-bulk rail and interstate non-bulk road would have been 8 per cent and 15 per cent lower, respectively, than actual average input costs in 1998-99. |
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| Report 99: Adequacy of Tourism Transport Infrastructure in Eastern Indonesia | January 1999 |
| This Report develops further the findings of earlier work by the Bureau of Transport and Communications Economics and the Research and Development Agency of the Indonesian Ministry of Communications on transport in northern Australia and eastern Indonesia. It explores the adequacy of tourism and transport infrastructure in eastern Indonesia to a greater depth of detail than was possible in the earlier work. The focus of the report is on international tourism, because of its importance to eastern Indonesia following the onset of the financial crisis. |
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| Working Paper 35 - Roads 2020 | October 1997 |
| Using the Bureau of Transport and Communications Economics' Road Infrastructure Assessment Model (RIAM), the Roads 2020 study makes forecasts at a strategic level of expenditure needs for investment and maintenance between 1998 and 2005 and between 2005 and 2020. |
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| Working Paper 28 - Tasmanian Freight Equalisation Scheme: Discussion Paper September 1996 | September 1996 |
| This report examines the appropriateness of established rates of assistance for the shipping of cargo to and from Tasmania and proposes rate amendments for different commodities and different units for the shipment of those commodities. It was undertaken by BTCE as a preliminary analysis to assist the Tasmanian Freight Equalisation Scheme Review Authority to undertake a more thorough examination of these issues at the request of the Minister for Transport and Regional Development. |
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| Working Paper 25 - Econometric Evidence on the Benefits of Infrastructure Investment: an Australian Perspective | May 1996 |
| This Working Paper forms part of a research project investigating into certain issues concerned with measuring the benefits of investment in transport infrastructure. The focus of the project is on possible benefits from increased employment; and benefits often claimed to be significant but understated by benefit-cost analyses, especially; cost savings from business logistic responses to improvements in infrastructure (for example, substitution of transport for inventory); rural regional development benefits; and the indirect benefits that an item of transport infrastructure provides to non-users of that infrastructure. |
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| Report 92: Traffic Congestion and Road User Charges in Australian Capital Cities | March 1996 |
| Urban travel behaviour is very complex. Analysts have tried to capture its main features in models that provide estimates of the levels and patterns of traffic on the urban road network. While the models are correspondingly complex, they are still radical simplifications of real urban systems. Their treatment of some aspects of travel behaviour can only be described as rudimentary. Nevertheless, they represent the state of the art in quantitative urban transport analysis, and they provide a valuable framework for thinking about urban policy issues. |
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| Working Paper 18 - Economic Effects of a Brisbane - Melbourne Inland Railway | June 1995 |
| Like some other freight-oriented rail investments, the inland railway has been advocated partly on the grounds that it will stimulate the economies of some rural regions. Examined in this paper are the effects of inland railway on the agricultural and mining industries of northern New South Wales and southern Queensland. |
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| Working Paper 14.5 - Adequacy of Transport Infrastructure: Urban Roads | January 1995 |
| This Working Paper is the fifth in a series of Working Papers which disseminates the results of a large research project into the adequacy of Australia's transport infrastructure over the next 20 years. The assessment covers all four modes of transport - road, rail, air and sea - with the primary focus on freight. |
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| Working Paper 14.6 - Adequacy of transport infrastructure Multimodal | January 1995 |
| This Working Paper is the sixth in a series of Working Papers which disseminates the results of a large research project into the adequacy of Australia's transport infrastructure over the next 20 years. The assessment covers all four modes of transport - road, rail, air and sea - with the primary focus on freight. |
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| Working Paper 14.1 - Adequacy of Transport Infrastructure: Intercity Roads | December 1994 |
| This Working Paper is the first in a series of Working Papers which disseminates the results of a large research project into the adequacy of Australia's transport infrastructure over the next 20 years. The assessment covers all four modes of transport - road, rail, air and sea - with the primary focus on freight. |
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| Working Paper 14.2 - Adequacy of transport Infrastructure: Rail | December 1994 |
| This Working Paper is the second in a series of Working Papers which disseminates the results of a large research project into the adequacy of Australia's transport infrastructure over the next 20 years. The assessment covers all four modes of transport - road, rail, air and sea - with the primary focus on freight. |
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| Working Paper 14.3 - Adequacy of Transport Infrastructure: Seaports | December 1994 |
| This Working Paper is the third in a series of Working Papers which disseminates the results of a large research project into the adequacy of Australia's transport infrastructure over the next 20 years. The assessment covers all four modes of transport - road, rail, air and sea - with the primary focus on freight. |
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| Working Paper 14.4 - Adequacy of Transport Infrastructure: Airports | December 1994 |
| This Working Paper is the fourth in a series of Working Papers which disseminates the results of a large research project into the adequacy of Australia's transport infrastructure over the next 20 years. The assessment covers all four modes of transport - road, rail, air and sea - with the primary focus on freight. |
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| Working Paper 10 - Costs of Reducing Greenhouse Gases in Australian Transport | November 1993 |
| The Bureau of Transport and Communications Economics (BTCE) has provided a comprehensive analysis of the range of possible measures for reducing greenhouse gases in the transport sector. The objective of the papers from the BTCE's greenhouse gas project is to: provide information on the work being undertaken by the BTCE; and expose the BTCE's analysis to comment by others. |
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| Working Paper 9 - Cost - Effectiveness of 'Black Spot' Treatments : A Pilot Study | October 1993 |
| This Paper presents the results of an evaluation of 5 1 'Black Spot' projects funded by the Australian Government, 26 in Victoria and 25 in New South Wales. The evaluation was based on the record of accidents before and after approved treatments were put in place. In order to isolate actual treatment effects, adjustments were made to take account of the major recent decline in accidents in suitable control areas. |
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| Report 84: Port Interface Cost Index | September 1993 |
Ports have been a major focus of the Australian Government's reform program. The Waterfront Industry Reform Authority was responsible for reform of the stevedoring industry, completing its work in October 1992. The BTCE has developed a new port interface cost index in response to the 'Warehouse to Wharf' report of the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Transport, Communications and Infrastructure. It includes port and related charges (port authority, towage and pilotage charges), stevedoring charges, customs brokers' fees and land transport charges. This Paper describes the development of the index and presents initial estimates of costs. Future values
will be published at intervals of six months. |
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| Report 80: Quality of Service in Australian Passenger Aviation | November 1992 |
| Several important aviation reform initiatives have been taken in the past five years. These include the economic deregulation of interstate services, the establishment of the Federal Airports Corporation and the Civil Aviation Authority as statutory authorities, multiple designation of Australia's international air services, the start of negotiations with New Zealand on a single trans-Tasman aviation market, and the merger and privatisation of Qantas and Australian Airlines. |
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| Report 76: Relative Efficiencies in the Transportation of Commodities | January 1992 |
| This Report assesses the relative efficiencies of road and rail in the transportation of several bulk commodities. The work explores potential constraints to the efficient transportation of bulk commodities, including the pricing systems applied by road and rail operators. |
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| Report 74: Transport and Regional Economic Development | January 1992 |
This Report describes a case study of capacity of regional transport infrastructure to meet current and future demands of industry. The selected region is comprised largely of the Australian Bureau of Statistics statistical divisions of the South East division of South Australia and the South Western
division of Victoria. The region is an important corridor for the transport needs of other regions. The region's transport infrastructure inlcudes a port, road and rail networks, and airports. |
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| Report 73: Deregulation of Domestic Aviation - The First Year | November 1991 |
| The Commonwealth's regulation of interstate aviation, in place for over thirty years, came to an end at midnight on 30 October 1990. This study reviews the developments in the last few months of regulation and in the first year of deregulation. |
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| Occasional paper 103 - Demand Forecasts and Demand Elasticities for Australian Transport Fuel | February 1991 |
| The study focuses on the current major transport fuels, which in 1988-89 accounted for 93 per cent of Australia's transport sector energy consumption: petrol (leaded and unleaded), automotive diesel oil, fuel oil and aviation turbine fuel. Major demand forecasts examined include those of the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics, the National Institute of Economic and Industry Research and the Australian Institute of Petroleum, based on forecasts by oil companies, to the year 2000. From an examination of these forecasts and derived own-price elasticities, the study concludes that only relatively large increases in fuel prices are likely to produce anything more than non-marginal reductionsin the levels of fuel demand. |
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| Occasional Paper 86 - Australian Car Rental Industry Study | January 1988 |
| The car rental industry in Australia has experienced strong growth in turnover during the past decade and a correspondingly high degree of price and service competition. Industry turnover has increased from $25 million in 1975 to in excess of $200 million in 1986, with the four national operators accounting for an estimated 80 to 85 per cent of industry turnover. The study indicates that greater operator access to Commonwealth airports since 1979 has been beneficial for consumers, operators and government airport concession revenue, alike. |
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| Information Paper 23 - BTE Road Construction Price Indexes: 1976-77 to 1986-87 | January 1988 |
| This Information Paper presents input-price indexes for national road construction activity for the period 1975-76 to 1986-87. This Paper contains a further update of the BTE Input-Price Indexes for the financial year 1986-87. Preliminary data which were used in compiling the indexes for 1986-87 have now been updated, and this has resulted in minor amendments to the previous 1986-87 figures. Earlier values of the indexes can be found in BTE Report 49, Road Construction Price Indexes 1969-70 to 1980-81. |
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| Report 63: AN-Westrail Integration: An Assessment of Options | December 1987 |
| The Bureau was required to assess the economic and financial costs and benefits to the railways, governments and the nation of several options for partial or complete integration of the two systems. Operational, marketing, financial and industrial implications, and social costs and benefits have been considered. The study includes a description of the current plans for both railways in the event of no integration. These plans, which incorporate the improvements that both railways (operating independently) anticipate over the next five years, are adopted as the Base Case, which is used as a benchmark for the subsequent analysis of the integration options. |
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| Report 62: The Tasmanian Rail System: An Assessment of Costs and Benefits | December 1987 |
| In 1985-86 the Comnonwealth Government agreed to a contract arrangement to finance the operating losses incurred by the Australian National (AN) Tasmanian rail system over the three-year period, 1985-86 to 1987-88. The contract provided for a payment of $18.4 million in 1985-86 declining to $17.8 million and $16.2 million in the following two years. To assist in the consideration of future arrangements for the Tasmanian railway system (Tasrail), the Commonwealth directed the Bureau to undertake an assessment of the costs and benefits of closing Tasrail. |
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| Information Paper 21 - Australian Road Financing Statistics 1975-76 to 1984-85 | July 1987 |
| The Paper presents statistics on road expenditure by State and Territory, by level of government, by year and by Commonwealth road funding category. A consistent series of road expenditure statistics and information on State road revenue was first presented in BTE Information Paper 3, Australian Road Financing Statistics 1970-71 to 1979-80. The statistics were updated in BTE Information Paper 11 and more recently in BTE Information Paper 14. This Paper provides statistics for 1984-85 and earlier years. Some of the statistics for earlier years have been revised. |
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| Report 61: Assessment of the Australian Road System | January 1987 |
| This Report provides an assessment of the status of the Australian Road System and an examination of its future funding requirements. Roads are divided into the categories recognised by Commonwealth road funding legislation: National Highways (16050 kilometres); rural arterials (89600 kilometres); urban arterials (15400 kilometres); local roads (677400 kilometres). |
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| Information Paper 19 - BTE Road Construction Price Indexes 1975-76 to 1985-86 | October 1986 |
| This Information Paper presents input-price indexes for national road construction activity for the period 1975-76 to 1985-86. This Paper contains a further update of the BTE Input-Price Indexes for the financial year 1985-86. Preliminary data which were used in compiling the indexes for 1985-86 have now been updated, and this has resulted in minor amendments to the previous 1984-85 figures. Earlier values of the indexes can be found in BTE Report 49, Road Construction Price Indexes 1969-70 to 1980-81. |
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| Occasional Paper 78 - Contestability and the Australian Liner Trades | May 1986 |
| This study analyses the efficiency of the Australian liner shipping industry by using the recently developed theory of contestable markets. Its importance is reflected in the fact that over half of Australia's ocean borne trade is carried by the liner sector. Its topicality flows from both the global issues of legislative initiatives, increased political interference, technological and organisational changes and overtonnaging and from the singularly Australian concerns of service dependability, shore-based costs, trade union influence, the attitudes of shippers and the role of the ANL. |
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| Occasional Paper 76 - Contestability Theory: An Assessment of its Relevance to Australian Liner Shipping | January 1986 |
| Contestable market theory suggests that if certain criteria are met, abovenormal profit-taking would be reduced or eliminated because of the threat of entry to exploit even transitory profit opportunities. In this Paper, the criteria which must be met for a market to be contestable are examined with the aim of determining whether Australian liner markets are inherently contestable and therefore theoretically self regulating in the sense that shippers will receive services at or near average costs. The Australia/Europe trade is examined in detail to provide a practical basis for the arguments presented. The assessment, however, is intended to apply to Australian liner markets in general. |
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| Information Paper 15 - BTE Road Construction Price Indexes: 1974/75 to 1984/85 | November 1985 |
| This Information Paper presents input-price indexes for national road construction activity for the period 1974-75 to 1984-85. Earlier values of the indexes, going back to 1969-70, can be found in BTE Report 49, Road Construction Price Indexes: 1969-70 to 1980-81. The BTE has compiled these indexes for use in its studies of the Australian road system. The indexes are also being published to assist those who require up-to-date information on movements in the prices of inputs to road construction. |
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| Information Paper 12 - BTE Road Construction Price Indexes: 1973/74 to 1983/84 | December 1984 |
| This Information Paper presents input-price indexes for national road construction activity for the period 1973-74 to1983-84. Earlier values of the indexes going back to 1969-70, can be found in BTE Report 49, Road Construction Price Indexes: 1969-70 to 1980-81. The BTE has compiled these indexes for use in its studies of the Australian road system. The indexes are also being published to assist those who require up-to-date information on movements in the prices of inputs to road construction. |
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| Report 56: Part's A and B: Assessment of the Australian Road System: 1984 | May 1984 |
| This report presents the results of a study of the Australian road system undertaken by the Bureau of Transport Economics in response to a direction by the then Minister for Transport in May 1982. The Terms of Reference required that the Bureau examine changes in conditions and performance of the road system in recent years, trends in levels and patterns of funding, the economics of road investment and the probable impact of alternative future funding patterns and levels. Part B is the summary report. |
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| Information Paper 11 - Australian Road Financing Statistics 1972/73 to 1981/82 | April 1984 |
| This Paper provides an update of the data on road expenditure and State road revenue in Australia contained in BTE Information Paper 3, 'Australian Road Financing Statistics 1970-71 to 1979-80'. It contains statistics on expenditure by the three levels of government (Commonwealth, State and Local Government) for 1980-81 and 1981-82 as well as revisions of some data for earlier years. State government road revenue for 1980-81 and 1981-82 is also included. |
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| Report 54: Evaluation of Standard Gauge Rail Connections to Selected Ports | November 1983 |
| This report is on the economic and financial benefits and costs of providing standard gauge railway lines to the ports of Brisbane, Melbourne and Geelong. The terms of reference for the study also required the BTE to examine the possible standardisation of the Tocumwal-Mangalore railway line because of the interdependence between the proposed Tocumwal-Mangalore and Melbourne-Geelong links. As a result, the study covered standard gauge links to Fisherman Islands (Brisbane), Swanson Dock (Melbourne) and Geelong, with the latter project including a standard gauge connection between Tocumwal and Mangalore. |
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| Occasional Paper 49 - Road Financing in Selected Countries | February 1982 |
| This Occasional Paper compares road expenditure and road user taxation in Australia with that in five overseas countries (Canada, Federal Republic of Germany, Great Britain, New Zealand and USA). These five countries were selected because they are federal systems, and/or because they have similar socio-economic backgrounds to Australia. |
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| Report 47: Tasmanian Freight Equalisation Scheme: A 'Landbridge' Approach to the Estimation of Subsidy Rates | January 1981 |
| In order to provide information to assist with the continuing administration of the Tasmanian Freight Equalisation Scheme TFES, the Minister for Transport directed the BTE to undertake studies of the costs incurred by Australian industries on Mainland interstate long distance freight transport, and the factors determining the freight rates charged between Tasmania and the Mainland and the potential for cost reductions. |
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| Report 44: Tasmanian Freight Equalisation Scheme: Recommended Rates of Assistance for Southbound Cargoes, Livestock and Timber at 31 January 1979 | October 1979 |
| This Report sets out recommended new rates of assistance to be paid under the Tasmanian Freight Equalisation Scheme TFES on eligible southbound cargoes and on northbound shipments of livestock and timber. The southbound rates were recalculated to meet a direction issued by the Commonwealth Government when the Freight Equalisation Scheme was first introduced, while the direction to recalculate timber rates arose from recommendations made in the 1978 BTE report giving new northbound TFES rates. The investigation of northbound livestock rates was initially directed towards determining whether higher rates of assistance should be paid on consignments of stud animals, but during the course of the study the terms of reference were widened to cover all livestock shipments. |
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| Report 43: Sandy Hollow - Maryvale Railway: Economic Evaluation of Proposed Completion | July 1979 |
| The uncompleted Sandy Hollow-Maryvale railway in New South Wales has a somewhat chequered history. It was finally begun in 1936 after inquiries stretching back to 1911. Construction was slowed to almost a standstill by World War 11, accelerated in the early post war years and then abandoned in 1951 due to a shortage of capital. Subsequent moves to complete the railway foundered in the face of unfavourable economic assessment. This report presents the results of an economic benefit-cost analysis of a recent proposal for the completion of the railway against the background of the discovery of massive proven coal reserves along the line. |
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| Report 42: An Assessment of the Australian Road System Vol's 1 and 2 | July 1979 |
| The scope of the report is broad in as much as it attempts to develop a comprehensive, explicit and detailed analysis of both historical and future road investment for the whole of Australia. The report does not make specific total funding recommendations, nor does it attempt to suggest what should be the future levels of Commonwealth, State and Local Government funding of roads expenditure. It focuses considerable attention on past patterns of road expenditure and on the economic merit of those expenditures. The sensitivity of the results of the economic analysis to different levels of overall road funding is examined. This examination is particularly directed to assessments of efficient allocations of resources between road categories and States. Vol 2 is a verbatim publication of comments provided to the BTE for its Report to assist the Commonwealth government in its consideration of grants of financial assistance to the States for roads. |
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| Report 40: National Highways Linking Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra Third Report: Canberra Connections, 1979 | March 1979 |
| In this Report, four parallel investigations were undertaken: road user effects; construction costs and engineering considerations; environmental impact; and social impact. In examining possible route locations in each corridor the four investigations were progressively carried out in more detail as alternatives were eliminated, until the best alternative became apparent. At this stage road user effects were quantified and a benefit-cost ratio was used to assess the economic warrant for construction of the preferred alternative. The investigations identified various aspects requiring further and more detailed study during selection of the precise location and the design and the construction stages. |
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| Report 39: Mainline Upgrading - Evaluation of a Range of Options for the Kalgoorlie - Perth Rail Link | October 1978 |
| This Report is the last of a series on railway mainline upgrading options and covers the evaluation of options for upgrading the standard gauge link between Kalgoorlie and Perth. The evaluation of upgrading options differs in this case from those previously reported, in that no capacity constraints are envisaged, but severe and continuing track deterioration has occurred between Koolyanobbing and Kwinana as a result of heavy axle loads in the iron ore and wheat trades. Thus the upgrading requirements in this case are concerned with the use of heavy rail and high standard track rather than the capacity to run more trains. |
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| Report 36: Tasmanian Freight Equalisation Scheme: Recommended Northbound Assistance Rates at 1 January 1978 | April 1978 |
| When the Commonwealth Government introduced the Tasmanian Freight Equalisation Scheme TFES on 1 July 1976 it directed the Bureau of Transport Economics to recalculate the rates of assistance by December 1977. This report presents the recommended new rates of assistance calculated on the basis of the freight rates prevailing at the end of December 1977. The method of recalculation was based on that used by the Nimmo Commission although with some modifications. The new assistance rates were calculated as the difference between the costs of moving a consignment from Tasmania to mainland destinations and the costs of moving a similar consignment on comparable mainland routes. |
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| Report 35: Mainline Upgrading - Evaluation of a Range of Options for the Trans Australia Link | March 1978 |
| For the purposes of this study the east-west rail link across Australia was considered in sections: Sydney to Broken Hill, Broken Hill to Port Pirie (including Adelaide to Peterborough and Adelaide to Port Pirie), The Port Pirie Bogie Exchange and Port Pirie to Kalgoorlie. For each section the study procedure adopted was similar to that used in previous BTE studies with possible upgrading options evaluated in light of the forecast growth in traffic. Upgradings were evaluated from both a commercial and a resource cost point of view. |
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| Report 34: National Highways Linking Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra, 1978 Second Report | February 1978 |
| As part of the National Highway System the Bureau of Roads nominated the Hume Highway as the National Highway linking Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra. However, the route of the National Highway from Goulburn to south of Albury was, in the opinion of the Bureau of Roads, a matter for detailed examination. The Bureau of Roads began work on such a study and reported on the section between Goulburn and Tabletop in 1975. This second report is concerned with the section between Bowna to Barnawatha in the vicinity of Albury. |
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| Occasional Paper 13 - Aggregate Bus Maintenance Costs | December 1977 |
| A knowledge of bus maintenance costs and how they vary with bus age is of value in a number of applications. Of particular interest to BTE is the importance of bus maintenance costs to optimal bus replacement strategies. The report summarises the Aggregate Bus Maintenance Studies of six bus operators in Australian capital cities and isolates the major variables influencing both maintenance and servicing costs. |
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| Report 33: Cost Recovery in Australian Transport 1974-75 | August 1977 |
| In recent years, increasing attention has been focussed on the question of charges for services provided by governments. In particular, the Commonwealth Government's 'cost recovery' policies have been the subject of wide debate, especially in their application to air transport. This Report contains results of a study of cost recovery in Australian transport generally in the year 1974-75. Each major mode of transport is included, and the analysis is comprehensive in the sense that different areas and classes of transport operations within each mode are analysed wherever applicable or practicable. |
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| Report 29: Mainline Upgrading - Evaluation of a Range of Options for the Sydney - Brisbane Rail Link | July 1977 |
| This study is one of a series concerned with the evaluation of upgrading options for inter-capital rail links in Australia. Analysis indicated that the Sydney to Brisbane line is already exhibiting signs of congestion and, given the expected traffic growth, will become seriously congested in the mid-1980s unless upgrading action is taken. The range of upgrading options considered include grade easement, centralised traffic control and crossing loop extensions. |
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| Report 28: Eastern By-Pass Routes for Launceston: Evaluation | July 1977 |
| In April, 1976, the Minister for Transport, requested the Commonwealth Bureau of Roads to report on 'the justification and timing for the construction of an Eastern by-pass of Launceston, including the question of whether such a bypass would warrant inclusion in the Declared National Highway System'. After identifying the most desirable of a number of alternative Eastern by-pass routes, the report states that at this time there is no economic warrant for an Eastern by-pass. |
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| Report 27: Urban Transport: Capital Requirements 1977-78 to 1979-80 | February 1977 |
| This is the fourth report prepared by the BTE on capital investment needs of transport in urban areas. It differs in a number of important respects from the earlier reports in that it deals with investment needs for roads as well as for public transport; it analyses the demand for and supply of urban transport as a whole rather than simply presenting the results of evaluations of specific capital investment proposals; and the report includes some consideration of urban areas outside the State capital cities. |
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| Report 25: Study of Intersystem Railway Freight Rating Practices | February 1976 |
| Government railways in Australia operate in all mainland States and Territories. Interstate movement of freight over the rail network is a potentially important method of transportation within the nation. However, intersystem railway arrangements operate against a background of State railways providing predominantly intrastate freight services. This report presents the results of a study of intersystem railway freight rating practices as they apply to a particular area of New South Wales. |
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| Report 22 Part's A, B and C: Consumer Preferences in Urban Buses and Bus Services | August 1975 |
| This Report presents the results of a consumer preference survey into bus design and bus service characteristics. The survey was conducted by the BTE together with the Metropolitan (Perth) Transport Trust, and consisted of two parts: household interviews carried out by the Australian Bureau of Statistics; and questionnaires distributed to travellers using the Perth suburban bus service. |
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| Report 18: Assessment of Investment in Urban Public Transport 1977-78 to 1979-80 | July 1975 |
| This is the fourth Report by the BTE on capital investment in urban public transport. It differs from previous Reports produced in that it presents an estimate of economically warranted investment for the period 1977-78 to 1979-80 rather than an evaluation of a specific program of projects put forward by State Authorities. |
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| Report 17: Port Pirie: Economic Evaluation of Harbour Improvements | July 1975 |
| This report examines in detail the proposal to deepen and widen the entrance channel and harbour of Port Pirie. Not only is this the major port for Broken Hill lead and zinc concentrates and refined metals, but it also handles a considerable volume of wheat and barley exports. Of the various benefits identified from the work, only two have been found to be substantial in economic terms. These are the possibility of ustilising to full capacity the somewhat larger bulk carriers for bulk concentrate exports and similarly, the possibility of fully loading wheat export ships so that they would not require topping up at deep water ports. |
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| Report 14: Review of Public Transport Investment Proposals for Australian Capital Cities, 1974-75 | January 1975 |
| This Report surveys proposals provided by the States for investment in urban public transport. As in previous reports, the BTE has limited analysis to benefit cost and financial evaluations. While refraining from direct comment on the administration, planning, pricing and other activities, the BTE has attempted to ensure that the proposals put forward comprise an appropriate program consistant wih long term projections with regard to urban planning and social objectives. |
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