Delivering everyday essentials

Whether it be bulky products delivered to major hardware chains, white goods to department stores or food to local supermarkets, freight rail is playing a growing role in the freight supply chain.

Freight rail ensures the safe, reliable and efficient delivery of everyday essentials to support Australian and New Zealand families.

Freight rail is increasingly being adopted as a cost effective, safe and environmentally beneficial transport option for businesses across the region.

Rail contributes to 56 per cent of the national freight task and will meet almost three quarters of the growth in demand expected over the next decade.

Leading the world in heavy haul

When it comes to heavy haul freight, our region leads the world. The freight rail network supporting Pilbara’s iron ore industry spans 3664km and is home to the world’s first fully automated heavy haul rail network. This outstanding example of productivity and efficiency delivers real environment and safety benefits too, with one automated train in the region carrying the equivalent of 631 B-Double trucks

Transforming how we do business

The landmark Inland Rail project currently underway is transforming Australia’s rail network and will connect businesses to the world like never before. It is creating new employment hubs and driving safety by taking trucks off the road. In fact, a 50 per cent shift of freight from road to rail when the project is complete could reduce costs to the community by $14.4 billion.

A safer, more sustainable choice

Every truck that rail takes off the road leads to better safety outcomes for the community. Accident costs associated with road freight are 20 times higher than rail. In our cities, better freight rail connections not only relieves congestion on commuter roads but improves environmental outcomes too. One short haul port train takes 41 B-doubles of the roads.

Key contacts

General Manager - Rail Freight and Heavy Haul