The main Adelaide to Darwin rail line has been used for the first time in years for a major movement of defence equipment from the NT to Cultana, just outside of Port Augusta in SA.
The movement saw up to 40 flat-top wagons loaded with military transports and artillery equipment head south under a contract awarded to rail operator Genesee & Wyoming Australia (GWA).
GWA operates nearly 5,000km of track in SA and the Territory, including the 2,200 kilometre Tarcoola‐to‐Darwin railway.
The military equipment was assembled at GWA’s Berrimah rail yards just outside of Darwin for transport to exercises at Cultana this month. GWA has also been awarded the contract for the return journey of the equipment and transports to Darwin.
GWA’s CEO 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,” Anderson said.
“It is an important project and hopefully the forerunner to further such opportunities between Defence 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.”
Brigadier Andrew Freeman said the ADF 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,” BRIG Freeman said.