Improved Midland line - opportunity for West Coast

For immediate release
28 February 2007

Improved Midland rail line offers new opportunities for West Coast

Buoyed by the success of recent train trials on South Island’s Midland Line which runs between Greymouth and Christchurch, Toll Rail says it now means they are open to new opportunities to grow rail freight in the region, particularly coal.

Toll Rail is close to completing a report, which looks at expanding the current 30-wagon coal carrying train capacity, and follows the trials of 45-wagon coal trains along the route. The increase in train size would lift capacity to in excess of 4.5m tonnes, sufficient to meet projected export coal volumes from the coast.

Group General Manager Toll Rail Joe Garbellini says thanks to the upgrades to Toll Rails own rolling stock and the improvements made by Ontrack to the Midland Line it means that a proven network is now in place for new ventures such as Pike River.

He says with just a few months notice rail could easily begin to serve the Pike River mine. This would mean millions of dollars in cost savings to the Greymouth region relating to road and port improvements, which are under consideration. Also it would mean Greymouth residents would not have to contend with large trucks travelling through their area.

In addition to more investments in locomotives and wagons all that is needed to rail serve the Pike River mine is improvements to crossing loops and development of a rail load out facility.

The huge improvements in customer service by Toll Rail was recently acknowledged by Solid Energy and Mr Garbellini says due to the logic of using a network already in place he is sure that new ventures like Pike River would revisit rail as their key transport provider.

ENDS

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