AN UPGRADE to Western Australia’s freight rail system will allow more grain to be delivered to the port of Geraldton during the peak pricing period.
A state government media release on 20 September announced in principle funding for Arc Infrastructure on the Mid West freight rail line for an upgrade between Carnamah and Mingenew on the Midland Line.
Detailed planning will get under way later this year.
Under the agreement the state and federal governments will allocate up to a combined $45 million towards the upgrades from the $200 million Agriculture Supply Chain Improvement (ACSI) program, while Arc Infrastructure will contribute $22 million.
The project will see around 77 kilometres of track between Carnamah and Mingenew upgraded from a 16 tonne-axle loading (TAL) to 19 TAL, allowing 25% more grain per train to be transported. This will provide immediate operational benefits to CBH grain growers.
Improvements will include replacing all timber sleepers to a concrete/steel sleeper pattern as well as renewing rail infrastructure to allow the heavier axle loads. Construction is expected to get under way next year and be completed in 2026.
The Midland Line transports more than more than 500,000 tonnes of grain to the port in Geraldton yearly.
The Midland Line upgrade is part of the joint Commonwealth and State $200 million ACSI program, which will optimise supply chain efficiencies, improve road safety and community amenity, and transport greater volumes of grain by rail in our agricultural regions of Western Australia.
According to a media release issued by Arc, CBH is the sole customer on the line which is used throughout the year to transport grain to Geraldton Port.
Arc and CBH have agreed to a construction methodology where large sections of the track will be closed for several months during construction. Combined with Arc delivering the work with its internal teams, this methodology reduces the overall project cost by over $30 million, enabling more efficient spend of ASCI funding.
The Midland Line transports more than more than 500,000 tonnes of grain to the port in Geraldton yearly.
A number of projects have already been delivered or are underway as part of the ASCI program, including major upgrades to a number of rail sidings across the state.
The media release said the delivery of the ASCI program is part of the State Labor Government’s election commitment to strengthen freight transport in the state’s agricultural regions.
