GrainCorp boosts Queensland rail capacity

By Rob McKay

One train will service GrainCorp's Mackay and Gladstone terminals while the other two will service its Fisherman Islands terminal.
GrainCorp will be responsible for deployment of rail assets and the coordination of the freight task for the contracted trains.
“Our agreement with ARG underpins a significant percentage of the transport requirement for Queensland grain exports,” GrainCorp managing director Mark Irwin said.
“This provides certainty for growers at a critical time.”
GrainCorp storage and logistics general manager Bruce Griffin said weekly rail capacity between Toowoomba and Brisbane would increase by 50 per cent.
“This means fewer trucks on the road between those two cities, and more export capacity at our Fisherman Islands port terminal,” Griffin said.
“In New South Wales last harvest, our management of rail assets led to a significant increase in rail efficiency.
“Per train efficiency rose by 60 per cent or more, compared with management of the same assets under the old single desk export monopoly.
“With the right management, coordination, and support from state and federal governments for maintenance of track, rail transport is both more environmentally sustainable and more efficient than road transport.”
GrainCorp also confirmed the addition of two trains to its existing contract with Pacific National, bringing the total number of trains under that contract in NSW and Victoria to 10.
Both new trains will service its Geelong port terminal, one running on the standard gauge and one on the broad gauge lines.
“We have taken on the additional rail capacity in Victoria in response to demand from grain exporters and worked closely with exporters to forward sell a significant proportion of our rail capacity in both NSW and Victoria,” Irwin said.
“We expect to do the same in Queensland.
“The demand for more rail capacity in Victoria comes at a time when crop prospects look positive in that region.
“We are anticipating a welcome return to a higher level of grain exports from Victoria this harvest, following two very disappointing seasons.”

Source: Lloyd’s List Daily Commercial News – www.lloydslistdcn.com.au