National Transport Commission chief executive Nick Dimopoulos.

The National Transport Commission (NTC) has outlined an ambitious national reform agenda for rail productivity.

Chief executive Nick Dimopoulos says reform is essential to ensure rail plays its part in servicing the growing land freight task safely and sustainably.

"A focus on productivity reform will deliver a growing rail freight system, with better track speeds, quicker transit times, higher axle weights, improved service and reliability.

"The end result will be more competitive exports and lower cost products on supermarket shelves."

Key recommendations of NTC's Freight Rail Productivity Review include:
* clear national objectives and policies to plan and develop the right infrastructure;
* certainty and transparency of government subsidies to rail;
* exploration of options for more nationally consistent rail pricing and access regulation;
* open access regulation for key strategically-located rail terminals;
* long-term pricing reform so truck charges do not unfairly disadvantage rail;
* industry-led co-ordination of freight movements along the supply chain; and
* better performance measures for rail.