the Grain Rail Re-sleepering Fact Sheet

Grain Freight Rail Network Re-sleepering Project
Delivering a safe, efficient and
reliable network for WA’s growers
Project
achievements
Commenced:
Brookfield Rail’s grain freight rail
network has been the backbone
of the State’s Wheatbelt for
nearly 100 years, and remains
the primary means of providing
the safest and most sustainable
transport service for the State’s
grain industry.
The Grain Freight Rail Network Re-sleepering Project
delivered on the recommendations of the Strategic
Grain Network Review (SGNR) in 2009, an initiative
by the State Government to determine what level of
government assistance should be provided in the
dedicated grain freight rail network to secure its
continued long-term and sustainable operation.
The SGNR process concluded with a decision
made by government, and supported by all
SGNR committee members, to fund $165 million
for the re-sleepering of certain dedicated grain
lines referred to as Tier 1 and 2 lines.
Brookfield Rail successfully delivered this innovative
project in early 2014 – safely, ahead of time and
under budget – entirely under live track conditions
with no impact to customers’ operations.
September 2010
Completed:
February 2014
Track re-sleepered:
1,265 kilometres
Man hours:
450,000
Total sleeper insertions:
716,900
Previous sleeper pattern:
1-in-4 steel/timber
Upgraded sleeper pattern:
1-in-2 steel/timber
Combined investment Federal Government,
State Government and Brookfield Rail:
$165 million
Completed with
Outstanding safety record
WA’s grain
industry
Project
innovation
Western Australia’s annual grain production
varies between six and 15 million tonnes per
annum, with two of the last three harvests setting
new records for total production. On average,
over 50% of the State’s annual grain production
is transported by rail, with the remainder moved
by road. The grain freight rail task is spread
across 65% of MULLEWA
Brookfield Rail’s network with
around 50% of the rail network dedicated solely
to the transportation of grain for one customer
NARNGULU
– CBH, the WA grain grower’s co-operative.
With the majority of Western Australia’s grain
MORAWA
production bound for overseas markets, rail
freight infrastructure is critical to the development
PERENJORI
of the State.
Brookfield Rail is continuously looking at new
and innovative techniques to improve the way
we maintain and operate our network. For the
first time in Australia, and possibly the world,
Brookfield Rail is trialling low profile concrete
sleepers as a potentially longer lasting and
environmentally friendly alternative for timber.
Legend
As part of the re-sleepering
project, 55 kilometres of
track on the Avon to Goomalling railway is acting as
Narrow
Gauge
a test section for a trial in which
low profile
concrete
Standard
sleepers have been intermixed
with steelGauge
sleepers.
LEONORA
Dual Gauge
Performance of the testsection,
where almost
36,000 concrete sleepers
were inserted,
Third
Party is being
closely monitored and, if successful, will present
Not in use
opportunities to expand the innovation across
Brookfield Rail’s network.
MENZIES
ENEABBA
MCLEVIE
KALANNIE
Project
milestones
BEACON
MILING
MOORA
Spanning more than three years of dedicated
work, the Grain Freight Rail Network Resleepering Project delivered required upgrade
works to 1,265 kilometres of our Tier 1 & 2
narrow gauge lines dedicated to grain freight.
MUKINBUDIN
GOOMALLING
MIDLAND
MERREDIN
AVON
PERTH
QUAIRADING
YORK
BRUCE ROCK
NAREMBEEN
KWINANA
CORRIGIN
BROOKTON
KONDININ
YEALERING
HYDEN
KULIN
NARROGIN
BRUNSWICK JCT
YILLIMINNING
NEWDEGATE
WAGIN
BUNBURY
COLLIE
In order to effect the decisions of the SGNR,
Brookfield Rail entered into an agreement with the
Public Transport Authority which enabled $146.35
million of Federal and State funding to be provided,
combined with Brookfield Rail’s investment of
$17.25 million for the re-sleepering program.
The project saw the 1,265km of dedicated grain
lines upgraded from a 1-in-4 steel/timber sleeper
pattern to a 1-in-2 steel/timber sleeper pattern,
providing improved strength and stability to
support future demands on the network.
The application of steel and timber was first
introduced on the Brookfield Rail network around
25 years ago and has since been adopted on other
similar trafficked rail networks around the country.
The introduction of steel sleepers makes sound
environmental and economic sense. Not only has
it reduced the dependency on timber sleepers,
but it has proven to be a suitable and sustainable
option for the lighter trafficked grainESPERANCE
lines, from
both a technical and cost perspective. As a result,
50 percent of the sleepers on the Tier 1 and 2
narrow gauge grain lines are now steel.
GREENBUSHES
MANJIMUP
Legend
Re-sleepered rail
KALGOORL
ALBANY
Whilst the introduction of steel sleepers has proven
beneficial, timber sleepers are still necessary to
bear the weight of the train as it travels.
The completion of this project secures a safe,
efficient and reliable freight rail network to ensure
grain growers have access to a sustainable grain
freight transport system for future years to come.
May
Protecting the
environment
Safe
delivery
Brookfield Rail worked proactively to conserve
the environment and minimise the impacts on the
rail corridor during the re-sleepering.
Safety is at the core of our business and we
are committed to the safety of our people,
contractors, customers and surrounding
communities. Brookfield Rail worked closely with
all stakeholders to ensure the safe delivery of
this project, achieving an injury frequency rate
significantly less than the industry standard.
In a rare discovery, over 100 Cyphanthera odgersii
occidentalis plants were identified within the rail
corridor near Cowcowing in the Northern Wheatbelt.
As the only population of the plant ever discovered,
Brookfield Rail and contractor John Holland worked
together to develop a comprehensive environmental
mitigation strategy to protect the threatened species.
Working closely with the Department of Parks
and Wildlife the rare flora was relocated to a
fenced area to provide more protection from
natural predators and watered via an automated
watering system.
Working with
the community
As the manager of one of the State’s most
vital pieces of transport infrastructure,
Brookfield Rail understands the importance
of its role in Western Australian communities
as well as its social, economic and
environmental responsibilities.
Where possible, Brookfield Rail and its
major contractors endeavoured to sourced
goods and services locally for the Grain Rail
Re-sleepering Project, with more than
$29 million invested directly with local
business, including expenditure for both
materials and services. We continue to
engage in a range of community and
corporate initiatives in the Wheatbelt,
including gifting materials and facilities,
participating in local events and educating
youth on safety and wellbeing.
Contact Details
Brookfield Rail Pty Ltd
2-10 Adams Drive, Welshpool WA 6106
GPO Box S1411 Perth WA 6845
Phone: 08 9212 2800
Email: info@brookfieldrail.com
www.brookfieldrail.com