Freight movements to the port of Burnie are a little easier with the reopening of the so-called Melba line from the Tasmanian West Coast.
This follows the line’s closure after heavy weather led to flooding earlier this month.
A train left Burnie on Tuesday morning for the MMG mine at Rosebery which has resumed operations following a landslip in early June.
According to infrastructure minister Rene Hidding, TasRail crews worked alongside VEC Civil Engineering in “extremely difficult conditions” to reopen the line.
“Trains will now run twice a day on the Melba Line over the next week to move mineral concentrates to the Port of Burnie, with trucks also being used over the next couple of days to help catch up,” Hidding said.
The Rosebery mine is a significant regional employer and an important customer of state-owned TasRail.
“The Government is pleased that even after such a significant flood event, disruptions have been kept to a minimum,” Hidding said.
“With the Melba Line reopened, TasRail’s focus is now on completing repairs on the Western Line, including particularly the Kimberley Rail Bridge.”
Hidding said the Government was working across departments and businesses to help Tasmanians to recover from the floods.
This article was originally published by Rail Express affiliate Lloyd’s List Australia.