FreightLink bolsters sale chance with new service

<p>Adelaide-Darwin rail operator FreightLink will add another weekly intermodal service from tomorrow in a bid to meet what it said was increasing demand on its operation.</p> <p>The move &#8211 which takes to six the number of weekly intermodal services &#8211 is also expected to provide added incentive to prospective buyers for FreightLink, following the operator’s announcement last month that it was putting itself on the market.</p> <p>But FreightLink chief John Fullerton said the core business was strong, with predictions it could handle about 800,000 tonnes of general freight for the year ending June 30.</p> <p>That was in addition to growing volumes from the mining sector.</p> <p>It had now captured about 90% of the intermodal volumes using the corridor.</p> <p>&#8220During the past year, growth in rail volumes in our intermodal business has been exceptional, with the intermodal freight task increasing by around 18%,&#8221 Mr Fullerton said.</p> <p>The outlook remained strong, particularly as soaring fuel prices were putting more pressure on road transport than rail. </p> <p>The new Thursday evening journey from Adelaide will see that train arrive in Alice Springs on Fridays and Darwin on Saturdays.</p> <br />