The Andrews Labor Government is delivering on its commitment to get more freight onto rail and more trucks off local roads, with an extension of the Mode Shift Incentive Scheme (MSIS).

Minister for Ports and Freight Melissa Horne announced a further $4 million boost in the scheme, which extends it until 30 June 2021.

It builds on the more than $20 million investment in the scheme over the past five years, which has removed the equivalent of 28,000 truck trips off Victorian roads each year.

With Victorian freight volumes set to nearly triple by 2051, it is vital rail takes up a greater share of the growing freight movement across the state.

The scheme provides support to rail freight companies to make rail transport costs competitive with road freight and allows exporters to get their goods to port sooner.

The MSIS is one of many Labor Government projects to get more freight onto rail, including the Port Rail Shuttle and new intermodal terminals planned at Truganina and Beveridge.

The Government has also approved the Port of Melbourne’s $125 million investment in building new on-dock rail at Swanson Dock East, which will reduce costs for exporters and get Victorian products to port sooner.