<p>The newly completed Adelaide-to-Darwin railway is already drawing export cargo from the southern states, Northern Territory chief minister Clare Martin said.</p> <p>Speaking at the Freight Connect 2004 Conference in Darwin this morning (Monday, February 9), Ms Martin said that while most freight on the train is domestic, some is already travelling to Darwin for export.</p> <p>"Even more exciting, freight from Asia is also set to be imported through Darwin," she said.</p> <p>However, given the economic advantages of the all-water route and the lack of international shipping services to Darwin, many in the industry remain sceptical about the potential of the railway to become a landbridge to Asia.</p> <p>Even the CEO of the Australian Railroad Group, self-declared Adelaide-to-Darwin optimist Mike Mohan, said turning the railway into a landbridge of the type that crosses the US would be very difficult.</p> <br />
