<span class="" id="parent-fieldname-description"> Upgrading Western Australia’s grain rail network would improve the performance of the above rail operator, according to Australian Railroad Group (ARG). </span> <p>By Sineva Toevai</p><p>The QR-owned bulk freight rail operator, which is in the process of finalising its bid for the state’s above-rail freight task that it has handled since the 1930s, believes inadequacies in the below-rail network has impinged on its performance.</p><p>“For example, grain trains along the network cannot operate at certain times during summer because of heat restrictions,” ARG Bulk West Group general manager Ken Potts said.</p><p>Speed limits imposed along certain parts of the network also weighed on its performance, he said.</p><p>Potts believes re-sleepering lines along the network would address these problems and improve the above-rail operator’s cycle times.</p><p>The WA Government last month said that $80m would be invested in the state’s grain freight network.</p><p>Grain marketing deregulation in 2008 prompted the state’s grain marketing and handling group, CBH, to open the above rail freight task to its first ever tender in the hope of securing a competitive deal for the state’s grain growers.</p><p>According to CBH, rail’s share of the grain freight task should be up around 70% while ARG currently handles an average of 60%.</p><p>Source: Lloyd’s List Daily Commercial News – <a target="_blank" href="http://www.lloydslistdcn.com.au">www.lloydslistdcn.com.au</a></p>
