Big trains, big gains for growers in North West

That’s the thinking behind Australian Rail Track Corporation’s announcement of a six month trial to allow rail operators to haul 11 tonnes more payload per wagon in trains of one kilometre - up to 250 metres longer than the current limit.

What’s the point? Cheaper freight rates for growers, better business for the ARTC and increased scale for rail operators.

The heavier haulage trial only impacts track running from Moree to Narrabri. Commonwealth-owned  ARTC has already beefed-up weight limits on the Lower Hunter Valley and into Gunnedah, in partnership with the coal industry.

But the Moree stretch is the missing link for the north west grain district. Bulking up weight restrictions means the economics of stacks up for rail operators to run bigger grain trains.

Lower freight rates also grow the Moree line’s catchment area, making rail more competitive with road freight for far-flung growers.  

ARTC’s Hunter Valley general manager Jonathan Vandervoort 

“Producers have been saying for years in order to become more competitive they want improvements in the supply chain and that rail is the most cost-effective and efficient way to do it,” said 

Mr Carter led the call to beef up weight limits on the North West rail line - which carries a significant portion of NSW’s crop to port.

ARTC responded initially in December with the one-off demonstration of the track’s capacity - a mega grain train from Narrabri, up to 1.3km long with 92t wagons.

That train hauled a load of Australian Premium White wheat valued at $1.4 million, compared to the old standard trains, typically 650m long with 72t wagons with loads valued around $600,000.

 Mr Vandervoort said the mega train proved the viability of heavier loads and innovative monitoring equipment will be used of heavier trains long term the trail to confirm the viability.

Newcastle Agri Terminal has contracted its own train to run carry its cargo to port.

Bigger loads “squeeze more out of every train path. It give us nearly 10pc straight gain in network prod for trains out of NSW,” Mr Carter said.

Haulier PN National’s general manager for bulk freight in NSW Victoria Stephen Cowan said “our biggest competition is road freight and (the heavier trains) help answer the question of how we make the economics of rail work.”

Mr Carter said his next freight next goal is to work with ARTC to increase weight restrictions north from Moree, deeper into the grainbelt at North Star.