AUSTRALIA- GrainCorp, a leading grain handling and storage company based in Sydney, has completed an A$6.2 (US$4.09) million rail upgrade at its Red Bend facility just south of Forbes in New South Wales, Australia.
The project, aimed at enhancing operational efficiency and promoting safer transportation practices, was celebrated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by key industry figures.
The upgrade involved extending the Red Bend siding by an additional 400 meters, facilitating the loading of a 48-wagon train in two 24-wagon sections without obstructing the main line. This significant expansion allows larger trains to transport substantial grains, including wheat, barley, and canola, with minimal disruption.
Previously, the shorter siding limited the facility to loading 20-wagon trains, causing delays in the transportation process. The completed project not only increases loading capacity but also improves the cycle times of trains, reducing the turnaround time from up to 72 hours to just 36 hours.
Nigel Lotz, the General Manager of Operations at GrainCorp, highlighted the importance of the upgrade for the region’s grain growers. “The region is a significant grain growing area in NSW, and the GrainCorp site receives on average 120,000 tonnes per harvest season,” said Lotz.
“Local growers need to have access to critical export markets as well as domestic customers in bigger years, and to be able to take advantage of the pricing benefits of a quick train cycle to the ports.”
GrainCorp, with the largest regional accumulation, storage, and handling network on the east coast of Australia, estimated that the Red Bend upgrade will divert approximately 26,000 tonnes of grain annually from trucks to trains.
This shift is expected to remove an estimated 660 truck movements from Central West roads, contributing to improved safety and reduced road congestion.
The Red Bend rail improvement project received financial support from multiple sources, including A$5.14 (US$3.39) million from GrainCorp, A$970,000 (US$640,200) from the NSW Government’s Fixing Country Rail Program, and an in-kind contribution of A$90,000 (US$59400) from the Australian Rail Track Corp. (ARTC).
Simon Ormsby, Group Executive Interstate Network for ARTC, expressed the organization’s satisfaction with the project, stating, “ARTC is pleased to support farmers to get their produce to local and international markets more efficiently. It’s good business for farmers and the community because it means more freight on rail and fewer trucks on our roads.”
The completed Red Bend rail upgrade aligns with GrainCorp’s commitment to enhancing infrastructure and fostering sustainable practices within the grain transportation industry.
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