FREIGHT rail operator Arc Infrastructure will more than double its annual iron ore output from Gold Valley’s Wiluna West Iron Ore Project to the Port of Esperance in Western Australia.
A new agreement signed at the beginning of March will allow for an increase in volume transported on the Arc network from 1.2 million tonnes per annum to 2.8 million tonnes per annum.
Announcing the new arrangement, Arc said the expansion of Gold Valley train services would accommodate growing iron ore volumes and the introduction of new services from Malcolm on the Leonora Branch Line.
Arc and Gold Valley began their existing agreement in September 2024 to transport iron ore from Wiluna West.
The new agreement underpins the start of Gold Valley operations at Malcolm which will see record volumes transported on the Leonora Branch Line. Arc Infrastructure will undertake an expanded program of resleepering and rerailing works on both the Leonora and Esperance branch lines to accommodate the growth in the Gold Valley rail volumes. Arc acting CEO, Nathan Speed, said the expansion was a further vote of confidence in the Yilgarn iron ore region. “When we welcomed Gold Valley onto the Arc Network in September, we added a customer with significant growth aspirations, so to see their plans come to fruition so quickly is very exciting,” Mr Speed said. “We look forward to continuing to support the Gold Valley operation, including the potential for even further growth in future, through the provision of a safe, reliable and efficient service.
“The new agreement will see record volumes transported on the Leonora Branch Line, helping achieve the shared goal of more freight on rail and delivering broader community benefits through improved road safety and reduced emissions,” he said. Gold Valley CEO, Scott Meacock, said the expansion was a significant step in achieving its growth aspirations.
“The extension of our rail haulage capacity along the Leonora Branch Line to Malcolm is a significant step for our Wiluna West operations and is essential to our growth strategy to increase exports out of Esperance to 2.8 million tonnes per annum and beyond.”
