Rail freight diverts around flood affected regions
Rail freight operator Pacific National is using freight trains to bypass New South Wales’ regions that have been impacted by floods.
While the eastern states of Australia experience unprecedented rainfall, resulting in flooding blocking train routes, Pacific National have worked around current routes that have been deemed impassable.
The diversions are in place to ensure freight can continue to be transported by rail to Perth, which is particularly important after Western Australia suffered a severe supply chain shortage when parts of the Trans Australian rail were blocked by South Australian floods earlier this year.
“Loaded 1500 metre freight trains have departed Sydney for Perth heading north to Newcastle, then on to Dubbo, Parkes and Broken Hill before making its way across SA,” Pacific National CEO Paul Scurrah says.
“This rail service would usually go via Lithgow or alternatively Picton and Cootamundra, however with both of these rail lines flooded we have circumvented a number of challenges to ensure freight is transported by rail to Perth.”
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With this diversion, freight is still scheduled to arrive at the Pacific National terminal in Kewdale on Sunday morning.
Pacific National will continue operating similar rail freight services in the upcoming days.
Each freight train is hauling groceries, refrigerated goods and essential items to major customers including Linfox, Toll Global Express, Lindsay Transport, Austrans Logistics and Rand Transport.
“This is crucial for the people of WA who recently experienced a shortage of groceries and essential household items during the closure of the Trans Australian railway, due to the flooding in SA,” Scurrah says.