Moora shire president Colin Gardiner, Owen Davies from CBH, Moora chief executive Alan Leeson, Paul Scott and Brett Jeffrey at the Avon Zone Council meeting held in Moora last Friday.
REPRESENTATIVES from Cooperative Bulk Handling Group (CBH) gave a presentation introducing detail of their new rail fleet delivering WA grain by rail to shire representatives at last Friday’s Avon Zone Council meeting held in Moora.
CBH has been strategically working since 2009 towards its goal of providing world class equipment, technology and services on rail for its growers.
CBH has purchased 22 new state-of-the-art locomotives and 574 wagons, some of which will be suitably designed to run on tier three lines.
Currently there is one locomotive being commissioned every 10 days.
The revitalisation of rail in WA has hit several major milestones in recent months with the 10 year above-rail agreement between CBH Group and Watco WA Rail.
CBH has said that growers can expect more tonnes to port at lower freight rates which makes them competitive with road freight, because of the combined efficiencies of their new locomotives and wagons and their operator Watco.
Watco will provide a comprehensive rail logistics service including train planning and scheduling, tracking, maintenance and inventory control.
It is also expected that there will be a significant environmental impact with the design of the new wagons: minimal noise from shunting.
The first train passed through Moora on Sunday afternoon blowing its whistle to all those at the football oval.