AusRAIL, Market Sectors

NT-Melbourne link builds cargo: FreightLink

<p>Cargo on FreightLink’s Melbourne connection to the Adelaide-Darwin rail service has grown about 20% a month since it started, the company’s chief executive, John Fullerton, said.</p> <p>The Melbourne link attracted 225 teu in July that grew to 269 teu in August and that figure increased to 356 teu in September, Mr Fullerton said.</p> <p>The cargo using the six-times a week Melbourne connection has been mostly destined for Alice Springs and Darwin, he said.</p> <p>"We have moved some export boxes," Mr Fullerton said.</p> <p>FreightLink, which began operation in January 2004, has already handled more than 1m tonne of cargo.</p> <p>The company is looking for further increases over the next few months, with bulk customers such as the Bootu Creek manganese mine, which is due to start shipments early next year.</p> <p>FreightLink has already completed rail loading facilities near the mine head and the bottom discharge facility for the bulk project at port of Darwin is due for completion in November.</p> <p>Last week FreightLInk conducted a "very successful" trial of its piggyback wagons for fuel tanker transport, Mr Fullerton said.</p> <p>These will rail fuel between Darwin and Alice Springs. </p> <br />