AusRAIL, Market Sectors

Rail wins back share of fertiliser freight task

<p>Rail has won back a significant share of the fertiliser freight task between Perth and Bunbury in a move that will take 2,000 heavy vehicle movements off the South Western Highway each year. </p> <p>WA planning and infrastructure Minister Alannah MacTiernan today (Wednesday, June 25) congratulated the Australian Railroad Group (ARG) on winning a contract to carry fertiliser from CSBP’s Kwinana works to CSBP’s Picton works near Bunbury.</p> <p>She described the move as "a major breakthrough" because it sees fertiliser moving back on to rail after almost 10 years of road transport.</p> <p>Ms MacTiernan said that while road transport will continue as Western Australia’s major freight transport mode, it is important that the decline of rail freight is arrested.</p> <p>"Moving large freight loads by rail or sea helps makes our roads safer and reduces road building and maintenance costs," she said.</p> <p>"Rail freight transport is at least three times more fuel-efficient than road freight and produces less than one third of the greenhouse gas emissions per tonne of freight hauled."</p> <p>ARG estimates the annual tonnage is 50,000 tonnes with the opportunity to expand to more than 100,000 tonnes and will initially operate four services per week. </p> <p>Murray Vitlich, ARG’s general manager operations, said ARG would provide rail linehaul of 22 containers on 11 narrow gauge flat top wagons. </p> <p>ARG will use road services between CSBP Kwinana and ARG Kwinana, and from ARG Picton to CSBP Picton.</p> <br />