Broadbent Grain plan to improve loading efficiency with hard stand infrastructure

Now that the 2.8 kilometer section of the Moree to Inverell rail line is complete, with the first train loaded just over a month ago, the grain receival company is looking ahead to the next stage of the project, which involves developing hard stand infrastructure to reduce loading times and improve efficiency.

"We've got to build and develop on our infrastructure,” Broadbent Grain storage and handling manager Michael Moloney said.

“It takes time; we're still in the planning stage.”

The site is currently using mobile equipment to load grain onto trains until more permanent infrastructure is built.

"We won't be doing that long-term,” Mr Moloney said.

"Hopefully by the end of the year we'll have some more permanent infrastructure in place.”

With the temporary infrastructure, it took about six and a half hours to load 39 wagons when the first train arrived at the site on March 3.

"We would like to load faster and will when we have more permanent facilities,” Mr Moloney said. "We’ll look to get it down to four hours.”

While there has only been one train since the rail line was reinstated in March, Mr Moloney said there are a few more in the pipeline with the next one scheduled for sometime in late April, early May.

"We're responsive to our clients' requirements to put grain onto rail … it depends on supply and demand,” he said.

As well as reducing loading times, hard stand infrastructure at the site will also boost the potential for trains to become a lot more regular.

More trains moving grain means less trucks on the road and huge savings for both the company and local growers.

“Rail freight is more effective than road,” Mr Moloney said.

“For us, it's about options and having the option to export grain from port and take the product off the roads.

“The benefits flow back to growers with improved pricing.”

Grain back on track at Moree first appeared on the Moree Champion.