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).

• Assessment of the Australian Road System
  
  report_061.pdf
  (13.67 MB)

• Assessment of the Australian Road System–Summary Report
  
  report_061_summary.pdf
  (1.02 MB)

In mid-l986 the Federal Bureau of Transport Economics engaged consultant Travers Morgan Pty Ltd to undertake a review of minerals transport in Australia. The objectives of the review were to describe the nature of mineral freight movements in Australia; to identify and assess relevant sources of data; to provide data on mineral movements by mode, origin and destination for the years 1980–81 to 1984–85; and to identify and critically assess possible methodologies for updating mineral freight movements at a later date.

• Transport of Australia's Minerals
  
  ip_020.pdf
  (6.07 MB)

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 Tasmanian Rail System: An Assessment of Costs and Benefits
  
  report_062.pdf
  (11.36 MB)

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.

• AN-Westrail Integration: An Assessment of Options
  
  report_063.pdf
  (8.27 MB)

In December 1986, the Australian Transport Advisory Council (ATAC) sought the assistance of the Bureau of Transport Economics in undertaking a review of transport research in Australia. The aims of the resulting study carried out by the Bureau were to identify the nature and extent of current Australian transport research, to assess priority areas for future research and to address coordination issues pertinent to delivery of an effective research effort. Following consideration at the December 1987 meeting of ATAC the results of the review are to be used as a basis for discussion at a seminar on transport research to be convened early in 1988.

• A Review of Transport Research in Australia
  
  ip_025.pdf
  (7.78 MB)

Efficient road pricing is required both to generate funds which may be used for roadworks and to ration the use of what is an expensive asset. The important elements of road pricing theory are outlined and these indicate that both the structure and level of charge are important in rationalising road use and optimising the role of road transport in our modern economy.

• Review of Road Cost Recovery
  
  op_090.pdf
  (14.21 MB)

During the last decade, the major railway systems around the world have undergone a fundamental reappraisal of their place in the economy in general, and their transport purpose, in particular. This Paper examines the railway systems of eight countries, including Australia, to see how they responded to a changing competitive environment, focusing on institutional and organisational restructuring that had taken place to revitalise them and to improve their performance.

• A Comparison of Overseas Railway Systems: Their Policy Trends and Performance
  
  ip_030.pdf
  (4.13 MB)

This report presents an assessment of the financial, economic, social and environmental benefits and costs of the closure or continued operation of each of the Australian National Railway Commission's passenger services.

• An Economic and Social Assessment of Australian National's Passenger Services
  
  report_067.pdf
  (3.16 MB)

This Report has two main goals. The first is to present the theoretical aspects of productivity measurement and its interpretation with particular emphasis on its role as a performance measure. The second is to provide, within the context of performance appraisal, an empirical analysis of productivity growth in the Australian National Railways Commission over the period 1979–80 to 1987–88.

• An Analysis of Total Factor Productivity with an Application to Australian National
  
  report_068.pdf
  (3.36 MB)

This study provides financial and social cost-benefit analyses of options for the Australian National railways operation in Tasmania (Tasrail).

• The Future of the Tasmanian Railway System: A Cost–Benefit Assessment of Options
  
  report_069.pdf
  (9.17 MB)