Final planning is underway for an expansion of the Broad Gauge Rail Yard at Tocumwal. The upgrades are expected to benefit Graincorp and others rail users.
Works to connect a new grain terminal at North Shore are imminent and final planning is underway for a similar project to follow at Tocumwal, which will further increase volumes of grain moved by rail to port.
What is the new grain terminal at North Shore? Sadly when they changed the port of geelong for the Tasmanian Ferry they disconnected rail to the port even as customers wanted to use the rail. network to the wharf.
A program to re-rail track, replace sleepers, lengthen passing loops and improve track geometry is almost complete on the Korong Vale to Manangatang line, one of Victoria’s busiest grain corridors with a growing container train service from Ultima – complementing a major siding extension commissioned at Boort in February.
Are we to see intermodal trains from Boort again?
Three per cent more freight was carried on the V/line network this year than last financial year despite a smaller grain harvest.
At only 3% uplift in rail freight volumes, clearly much more needs to be done and now this is a terrible figure and a terrible outcome. Freight Victoria talks only about larger trucks and few rail projects. Ballarat Intermodal Terminal is still not started, Ouyen has a positive business case for rail and an intermodal terminal, this has been ignored for I believe political reasons, we are still waiting on the port rail shuttles that have not started, Intermodal terminal for Geelong area has not started, Mildura is at capacity, Portland North intermodal terminal has not started despite requests for it to be completed.
Stated a few years ago about a ethanol plant being developed in the area and would use rail to move the product to the refinery, could this development be a component of that plan?
If further freight opportunities exist to the north of Tocumwal re-gauge the line in partnership with the NSW Government and take advantage of the freight possibilities.
Focus should also be paid to reconnecting the branch at Dookie and more rail upgrades for the Balranald line where 100,000’s of tonnes of grain are trucked to port rather than using trains.
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