Grain handling giant CBH has launched its new $175 million fleet of locomotives and wagons to service the $5 billion Western Australian grain sector.

 

The 22 new locomotives, each named after historic rail sidings across the WA wheatbelt, and 574 new purpose-built wagons represent the first dedicated new grain rail fleet to arrive in the state for over 30 years.

 

CBH General Manager Operations Colin Tutt said today marks two years of dedication and hard work to bring the dream of growers owning their own rail fleet to life and also marks the beginning of a very proud chapter in the history of the CBH Group and the WA grain industry.

 

"We will go from strength to strength this year as each train is commissioned and growers see more tonnes moving to port more efficiently," Mr Tutt said.

 

"The trains have state-of-the-art technology and across the fleet we'll have more horsepower to achieve faster journeys to port and faster turnaround times at sites.

 

"The locomotives have distributed power which means they can push and pull, allowing us to operate more efficiently and be far more productive.  This coupled with our new light-weight aluminium wagons will revitalise rail in Western Australia."

 

Western Australian Agriculture and Food Minister Terry Redman said welcomed CBH’s investment, saying it’clearly demonstrates’ its confidence in the future of the state’s grains sector.

 

“This investment, combined with a State Government contribution of $187.9million to help replace line sleepers and upgrade rail sidings, will ensure WA has the infrastructure needed to efficiently move grain from the regions to our ports and then to vital export markets,” Mr Redman said.