The New South Wales Greens have urged greater attention to be paid for the state’s rural rail branch lines after State Greens Senator Lee Rhiannon savaged the government for being ‘slaves to the truck industry’.

 

Senator Rhiannon urged the Federal Government to restore the state’s ailing rural rail branch lines, saying that the infrastructure should be a transport funding priority.

 

“Federal funding is desperately needed to restore NSW rural branch lines that were closed down by the NSW government,” said Senator Rhiannon.

 

“Federal transport funding under the Gillard Government has reached a record $12 billion for NSW, but is heavily skewed in favour of roads, with a few piecemeal rail freight projects along the coast.”

 

"The long term benefits to the state from re-opening grain rail lines are enormous, from protecting rural communities from rising petrol prices, improving road safety, reducing road maintenance costs on regional councils and securing the future food security of NSW.

 

Senator Rhiannon blamed successive government’s for cultivating a dependency on trucks, resulting in d’isastrous results for the environment, excessive working hours for truck drivers and road safety.’