Construction has commenced on works to upgrade a critical section of the Midland Line in Western Australia, which is set to boost grain-to-port rail freight capacity in the ‘Mid West’ region of the state.
The Midland Line plays a vital role in transporting grain to the Geraldton Port, one of Australia’s major seaports that’s responsible for the trade and transportation of essential goods. CBH Group uses the corridor to move about half a million tonnes of grain every year.
The project will deliver upgrades to about 78 kilometres of track on the Midland Line between Carnamah and Mingenew.
Contractor Arc Infrastructure will deliver the scope of works, which includes the replacement of timber sleepers with about 55,000 modern concrete and steel sleepers to increase the tonne-axle load (TAL) from 16 to 19 tonnes.
The upgrade project aims to streamline grain handling, boost capacity and deliver savings on freight costs to local grain growers by increasing the amount of grain that can be carried on a single train by 25 per cent.
This project is funded through the $200 million Agricultural Supply Chain Improvements (ASCI) program. This program represents the implementation phase of the Revitalising Agricultural Region Freight Strategy, which is responsible for ensuring rail freight capacity and network efficiency in WA’s grain-growing regions.
Both the Federal ($160 million) and Western Australian ($40 million) governments are contributing to this program.
Several other projects – separate to the aforementioned Midland Line works – are being delivered thanks to the ASCI program. These include rail siding upgrades already completed at Cranbrook, Moora, Brookton, Broomehill and Konnongorring.
WA Agriculture and Food and Mid West Minister Jackie Jarvis said the ASCI program is hoping to strengthen the state’s grain supply chain, while also supporting WA farmers.
“Western Australia’s grain industry is a powerhouse of our regional economy, and the Mid West plays a vital role in producing the premium grain we export to the world,” Jarvis said.
“Upgrading the Midland Line between Carnamah and Mingenew supports better returns for local growers and will help WA remain competitive in the international market.”
The project is expected to be completed by early next year.
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