AusRAIL, Market Sectors

Pair of rail projects grow Fremantle container trade

<span class="" id="parent-fieldname-description"> A pair of rail projects are part of a $65.6 million state and federal investment to increase container trade efficiency and capacity for Fremantle Ports, according to WA transport minister Dean Nalder. </span> <p>Nalder was joined on Monday by deputy prime minister and minister for infrastructure and regional development Warren Truss at North Quay in Fremantle, to mark the completion of the $65.6 million infrastructure development package.</p><p>Part of that package, the two rail projects have been jointly funded by the state and federal governments at a total cost of $38.4 million.</p><p>These are the extension of the North Quay Rail Terminal servicing WA’s container trade and the construction of a crossing loop at Spearwood that enables freight trains to pass on the rail line that connects the port with the Kewdale/Forrestfield area.</p><p>The third recently completed project is Fremantle Ports’ $27.2 million development of roads and services on land reclaimed at Rous Head as a result of the 2010 harbour deepening.</p><p>Industrial leases on this new land are now being developed by the private sector.</p><p>Nalder said efficient freight rail links were essential components of effective supply chains.</p><p>“Making rail more efficient increases its competitiveness and the state government is committed to investing in rail projects to service current needs and to provide additional capacity for growth,” he said.</p><p>“Extension of the North Quay Rail Terminal from 400 to 690 metres reduces turnaround time for trains and achieves better interface with the container terminals.</p><p>“The crossing loop constructed at Spearwood, south of Fremantle, also increases efficiency and capacity by accommodating more freight train movements during the day and minimising service delays.</p><p>“The rail projects will help reduce reliance on heavy road freight vehicles by using rail more efficiently to move goods around the Perth metropolitan area, particularly between inland hubs and Fremantle Port,” Nalder said.</p><p>In 2013/14, rail carried the equivalent of nearly 100,000 standard containers to Fremantle, which equated to a rail market share of 14% for the port’s container trade.</p><p>This compares with about 2% in 2002.</p><p>In the long term, policymakers have set out to boost rail’s share of container trade to at least 30%.</p><p><em><strong>This is an edited version of a story originally published by Rail Express affiliate publication, Lloyd’s List Australia.&nbsp</strong></em></p>