The Australian Government is extending five passing loops across Victoria and South Australia to facilitate the operation of 1,800m freight trains. The $15m loops extension project will be carried out at Mile End in South Australia, and Pyrenees, Murtoa, Pimpinio and Diapur in Victoria.
Longer trains will see a 20% increase in capacity for each rail freight service for little additional cost to operators. This should increase competitiveness and rail capacity between the eastern states and Western Australia.
“Today’s investment will make interstate freight more efficient.”
Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Warren Truss said: “With rail dominating the supply chain for Australia’s east-west freight, today’s investment will make interstate freight more efficient.”