A WA parliamentary question addresses concerns about the potential closure of Tier 3 grain rail lines and its impact on grain transport, particularly regarding increased truck movements. The Minister's response indicates continued rail use for the coming harvest but acknowledges a shift towards road transport to railheads.

AnsweredQoN 596Legislative Council
Asked
7 September 2010
Portfolio
Transport

QuestionView source ↗

GRAIN RAIL NETWORK — TIER 3 LINES — MOVEMENT OF HARVEST
I refer to recent comments that three of the tier 3 lines in the grain rail network will reach the end of their serviceable life at the end of this financial year. (1) By what method of transport will the next two years’ harvests be moved from the area affected? (2) How many annual truck movements will be created when these lines close? Hon SIMON O’BRIEN

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) Tier 3 lines will continue to be available for use for the coming harvest, and it is expected that most of the grain will be exported by rail. Most of this harvest will be moved from the affected area by rail. It is worth remembering that the majority of the tier 3 lines have rarely been used by the grain handler for several years now. It is expected that the next harvest from the affected area will be moved by road to rail heads on the Great Southern Railway and the Eastern Goldfields Railway, from where it will be transported to port by rail. (2) There are already significant truck movements in these areas now, as all grain is transported by truck at some point. The number of additional truck movements will depend on patterns of transport between farms and minor and major receival points.
(1) By what method of transport will the next two years’ harvests be moved from the area affected? (2) How many annual truck movements will be created when these lines close? Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) Tier 3 lines will continue to be available for use for the coming harvest, and it is expected that most of the grain will be exported by rail. Most of this harvest will be moved from the affected area by rail. It is worth remembering that the majority of the tier 3 lines have rarely been used by the grain handler for several years now. It is expected that the next harvest from the affected area will be moved by road to rail heads on the Great Southern Railway and the Eastern Goldfields Railway, from where it will be transported to port by rail. (2) There are already significant truck movements in these areas now, as all grain is transported by truck at some point. The number of additional truck movements will depend on patterns of transport between farms and minor and major receival points.
(2) How many annual truck movements will be created when these lines close? Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) Tier 3 lines will continue to be available for use for the coming harvest, and it is expected that most of the grain will be exported by rail. Most of this harvest will be moved from the affected area by rail. It is worth remembering that the majority of the tier 3 lines have rarely been used by the grain handler for several years now. It is expected that the next harvest from the affected area will be moved by road to rail heads on the Great Southern Railway and the Eastern Goldfields Railway, from where it will be transported to port by rail. (2) There are already significant truck movements in these areas now, as all grain is transported by truck at some point. The number of additional truck movements will depend on patterns of transport between farms and minor and major receival points.
Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) Tier 3 lines will continue to be available for use for the coming harvest, and it is expected that most of the grain will be exported by rail. Most of this harvest will be moved from the affected area by rail. It is worth remembering that the majority of the tier 3 lines have rarely been used by the grain handler for several years now. It is expected that the next harvest from the affected area will be moved by road to rail heads on the Great Southern Railway and the Eastern Goldfields Railway, from where it will be transported to port by rail. (2) There are already significant truck movements in these areas now, as all grain is transported by truck at some point. The number of additional truck movements will depend on patterns of transport between farms and minor and major receival points.
I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) Tier 3 lines will continue to be available for use for the coming harvest, and it is expected that most of the grain will be exported by rail. Most of this harvest will be moved from the affected area by rail. It is worth remembering that the majority of the tier 3 lines have rarely been used by the grain handler for several years now. It is expected that the next harvest from the affected area will be moved by road to rail heads on the Great Southern Railway and the Eastern Goldfields Railway, from where it will be transported to port by rail. (2) There are already significant truck movements in these areas now, as all grain is transported by truck at some point. The number of additional truck movements will depend on patterns of transport between farms and minor and major receival points.
(1) Tier 3 lines will continue to be available for use for the coming harvest, and it is expected that most of the grain will be exported by rail. Most of this harvest will be moved from the affected area by rail. It is worth remembering that the majority of the tier 3 lines have rarely been used by the grain handler for several years now. It is expected that the next harvest from the affected area will be moved by road to rail heads on the Great Southern Railway and the Eastern Goldfields Railway, from where it will be transported to port by rail. (2) There are already significant truck movements in these areas now, as all grain is transported by truck at some point. The number of additional truck movements will depend on patterns of transport between farms and minor and major receival points.
(2) There are already significant truck movements in these areas now, as all grain is transported by truck at some point. The number of additional truck movements will depend on patterns of transport between farms and minor and major receival points.

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