FREMANTLE PORTS INCREASES CAPACITY

A $65.6m state and Federal investment in three new infrastructure projects to service Fremantle Ports’ container trade has significantly increased efficiency and capacity, according to WA Transport Minister, Dean Nalder. Two rail projects have been jointly funded by the state and Federal governments at a total cost of $38.4m. These are the extension of the North Quay Rail Terminal servicing Western Australia’s container trade and the construction of a crossing loop at Spearwood that enables freight trains to pass on the rail line that connects the port with the Kewdale/Forrestfield area. The third recently completed project is Fremantle Ports’ $27.2m development of roads and services on land reclaimed at Rous Head as a result of the 2010 harbour deepening. Industrial leases on this new land are now being developed by the private sector. “The rail projects will help reduce reliance on heavy road freight vehicles by using rail more efficiently to move goods around the Perth metropolitan area, particularly between inland hubs and Fremantle Port,” Mr Nalder said. In 2013/14, rail carried the equivalent of nearly 100,000 standard containers, which equated to a rail market share of 14% for Fremantle Port’s container trade. This compares with about 2% in 2002.