THE VICTORIAN state government wants to shift more grain movement to rail from road.
It plans to get more grain moving to port and reducing the reliance on trucks on regional roads by connecting the Barnes Junction grain terminal to rail for the first time in 30 years.
Minister for Ports and Freight Melissa Horne on 12 March, visited the new grain terminal connection at Barnes, 15km north of Echuca.
A state government media release to announce the move said freight trains would soon be moving bulk grain for domestic and export markets.
A four-kilometre section of the previously closed Moulamein Line will allow for the new terminal to begin operating following a $10 million upgrade of the Echuca- Barnes-Deniliquin freight corridor which was completed in late-2023.
The release said plans for construction of a hardstand will also eventually enable loading of containerised goods from the region to be moved south by rail.
“The Barnes upgrade is a boost to Victoria’s freight rail system that plays a vital role in transporting regional produce to port and a further signal to industry that the broad- gauge freight network is important and growing,” the release said.
“The government has invested $368 million since 2020 in rail freight maintenance to grow volumes on rail through targeted projects, which are delivering benefits for producers and industry and reducing truck movements on our roads.
“This connection will support longer, faster, heavier trains moving more goods by rail across a more resilient network, improving reliability and efficiency for producers and operators.”
V/Line is responsible for the maintenance of more than 3500 kilometres of rail track across the state, used by passenger trains and freight operators, including freight only lines from Echuca to Barnes and Deniliquin, and from Strathmerton to Tocumwal.
