Aurizon, Australia's largest rail freight company, today opened a new $60 million freight terminal in Kewdale, Perth.
Strategically located in Perth's key freight and logistics precinct, the purpose-built terminal is designed to accommodate longer trains and move more freight between Western Australia and the eastern states.
Aurizon Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Andrew Harding said the new terminal would play an important role in supporting the movement of containerised freight and improving national supply chain efficiency.
"Everything from supermarket goods and consumer products to industrial inputs and motor vehicles move on interstate rail freight services and as the economy and consumer demand continues to grow, so does the volume of freight we transport for our customers.
"Perth is a critical node for these services and supports the high-volume East-West corridor.
"We have outgrown our existing terminal at Forrestfield and this new terminal will have more capacity for longer trains delivering vital goods in and out of Western Australia.
"Double-stacked interstate trains up to 1.8 kilometres in length can be accommodated at one time without the need for shunting or the train to be broken up. This increases loading and unloading times ensuring our customers get their products to market faster.
"The 18.8-hectare site also provides for improved truck access and opportunities for co-located logistics operations in the precinct."
The existing terminal site at Forrestfield will be re-purposed to support rail services for Aurizon's growing national motor vehicle distribution network.
Mr Harding said the opening of the Kewdale Terminal was a significant milestone for Aurizon and a major investment in Western Australia.
"The new Kewdale Terminal is part of our investment to help our customers with increased capacity, efficiency and flexibility in moving their freight nationwide. Helping power Australian households and the national economy.
"It will also help shift more freight from road to rail and that will deliver enormous benefits in helping reduce emissions, congestion on our roads and safety risks for motorists."
Kewdale Terminal was officially opened by the West Australian Deputy Premier, Treasurer and Minister for Transport and Major Infrastructure Rita Saffioti in the presence of customers, industry partners and stakeholders.
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