The main Adelaide to Darwin rail line is to be used from today for the first time in many years for a major movement of Australian defence equipment.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The military equipment will movefrom the Top End to the national defence training ground, Cultana, just outside of Port Augusta in northern South Australia.
The movement will see up to 40 flat-top wagons loaded with military transports and artillery equipment, head south this morning under a contract awarded to rail operator, Genesee & Wyoming Australia.
GWA operates nearly 5000km of track in South Australia and the Northern Territory, including the 2200‐km Tarcoola‐to‐Darwin railway.
The military equipment has been assembled over recent days at GWA’s Berrimah rail yards just outside of Darwin with loading and tie-down over the past 48 hours.
The special train movement is expected to reach Port Augusta by Sunday morning with the accompanying equipment and Defence personnel undertaking exercises at Cultana into March.
GWA has also been awarded the contract for the return journey of the equipment and transports, to Darwin.
More reading:
GWA’s chief executive officer, Luke Anderson, said the group had worked hard with Defence to provide a strong logistics solution to support the return of this exercise movement to rail.
“This was a great endorsement for rail, getting more trucks off our roads and lowering emissions.
“It is an important project and hopefully the forerunner to further such opportunities between the Department of Defence (Australia) and GWA where the capability of rail to move large consignments safely and efficiently also meets the scope and challenges of Defence’s need to have nationwide secure transport and logistics expertise,” Mr Anderson said.
Brigadier Andrew Freeman said the Australian Defence Force welcomed the opportunity to partner with industry.
“The linkage and relationship between the Defence Force and industry continues to grow and strengthen and the exercising of this rail capability is an excellent example of how we can work together,” Brigadier Freeman said.
While you're with us, you can now receive updates straight to your inbox each Friday at 6am from the Katherine Times. To make sure you're up to date with all the news, sign up here.
