The CBH Group is pleased to announce the completion of the Broomehill rapid rail outloading and siding project (“the Broomehill project”).
The Broomehill project consists of a new 2.1km rail siding, adjacent to the mainline to enable rapid loading of longer trains at Broomehill and provide a passing loop in the Albany Zone allowing for a third train to operate. The trains will be loaded via a 4400-tonne equivalent fixed rail loading facility.
The new loading facility can load a 60-wagon train (approx. 3600 tonnes) without disrupting the mainline, within four hours. Previously, only 30 wagons could be loaded at Broomehill, which would take 11 hours, requiring multiple shunts that would disrupt the mainline.
CBH chief executive officer Ben Macnamara heralded the new project as a gamechanger for the Albany Zone, creating benefits across the whole CBH network.
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“I would like to thank the state and federal governments for their investment through the Agricultural Supply Chain Improvements (ASCI) Program. This is a critical program aimed at improving the efficiency of the WA freight rail network and supports regional communities by improving safety and infrastructure for the benefit of growers and the whole Western Australian economy,” Macnamara said.
“A huge thanks to everyone who helped design, build and commission the project, including all the hardworking CBH teams, Kotzur, Pacific Industrial, local contractors and suppliers.
“Thank you to the Shire of Broomehill-Tambellup for your patience and understanding during the construction – it was a significant project, and we appreciate your support.”
Broomehill is the third rail siding built at CBH sites which has been funded in partnership with the Western Australian and Commonwealth Governments under Package 1 of the ASCI Program. Rail sidings have been completed at Brookton (August 2023) and Konnongorring (November 2024).
Broomehill however is the first of these projects to have a state-of-the-art fixed loading facility constructed to complement the rail siding. The Cranbrook siding and loading facility is the next of these projects under way and forecast to be completed in the second half of this year.