News in brief – 21-27 October 2009

NSW-Acacia Ridge track upgrade begins
By Rob McKay
Work has started on a significant upgrade of the rail line between the New South Wales border and the Brisbane intermodal hub Acacia Ridge.
The $55.8 million project, funded under the Federal Government’s Economic Stimulus Plan, will replace existing timber sleepers with 105,000 new concrete sleepers.
The project will create 120 jobs.
As well as the replacement of sleepers, the project will also involve the provision of narrow gauge access from Acacia Ridge to Bromelton and from Bromelton to Glenapp as well as the conversion of existing loops to dual gauge track.
Source: Lloyd’s List Daily Commercial News – www.lloydslistdcn.com.au

Victorian grain rail line upgrades on track for harvest
By Rob McKay
The Victorian Government is pressing ahead with its regional rail upgrade agenda, with the minister responsible, Lynne Kosky, meeting with local government leaders from across western and north-western Victoria on October 27th to discuss the government’s progress of regional rail projects.
Kosky said upgrades of four "silver" lines in the region identified in Tim Fisher's state rail freight review – Ouyen-Murrayville, Quambatook-Managatang, Charlton-Sea Lake and Warracknabeal-Hopetown – would be completed in time for this season's grain harvest.
Source: Lloyd’s List Daily Commercial News – www.lloydslistdcn.com.au

New gantry a boost for Donald freight terminal
By Rob McKay
The Victorian Government will spend almost $500,000 upgrading the Donald Intermodal Terminal, the minister responsible for rail, Lynne Kosky, said on October 23rd.
“In Donald, this particular upgrade will assist the efficiency and allow Pea Growers Co-Op – which operates the yard – to expand into other grains such as wheat and pulses,” Kosky said
Kosky said the $73 million upgrade to the Mildura rail line would increase the efficient movement of agricultural exports from Donald and the surrounding Wimmera-Mallee Region.
“The change in grain marketing brought about by the abolition of a single desk for international wheat sales has provided an opportunity for more freight to pass through the Donald Intermodal Terminal,” she said.
“Combined with an increasing preference for many of our export customers to receive containerised rather than bulk grain, the future for the terminal looks bright.
“However the existing 25-year-old gantry is unable to cope with the expected increase in container rail freight forecast to occur in the area.
“The new gantry will capitalise on improvements to the regional rail network, changes in grain marketing and the Victorian Government’s Rail Freight Support Package.”
VicTrack will manage the replacement of the gantry.
Source: Lloyd’s List Daily Commercial News – www.lloydslistdcn.com.au