Australia's rail freight industry group calls for measures to shift freight back to trains, from trucks, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to avoid the other damage that truck traffic does (to roads, and to lungs). That could be wise — but the group snuck in a call to increase efficiency by eliminating some safety precautions. I hope Australians are aware of what such corner-cutting caused in the US — for example, the disastrous derailment in East Palestine and the workers who have to fight for sick leave.

If trucks get an unfair advantage from not being charged for their environmental cost, adding charges or taxes should be a fine way of moving freight back to trains. Investment in track and facilities are legitimate methods, too. But the safety of the public and train workers should not be treated as mere capital to invest.