A new $2.15 million rail siding in Temora will eliminate a freight bottleneck and get more trains shifting grain, Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke announced today.
Built with $2.15 million from a NSW Government Fixing Country Rail grant, the new siding will also improve safety, Ms Cooke said.
“This siding is being built at the BFB grain receival site west of Temora and will be a huge boost to primary producers, to train drivers and to grain buyers,” Ms Cooke said.
“It will accommodate trains up to 1.3 kilometres long, and will enable grain loading to take place off the main line.
“It will also create a faster transfer process which will have cost benefits through greater efficiencies,” Ms Cooke said.
Because freight trains will no longer be loaded while on the main line, a bottleneck between Temora and Hillston will be eliminated. Train movements back and forth between the Temora West and Temora yards will also be eliminated thereby creating a safer working environment.
“This is a great result for Temora Shire and its economy, and it’s wonderful to see that increased efficiency and improved safety go hand in hand,” Ms Cooke added.
Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight Melinda Pavey emphasised the importance of shifting products across NSW.
“Freight is worth more than $60 billion to the NSW economy. It is critical that NSW has a state of the art freight network as the global marketplace continues to become more competitive,” Mrs Pavey said.
The Nationals in government have invested $557 million into 310 projects across NSW, under the Fixing Country Roads and Fixing Country Rail programs.
More details can be found online at: www.transport.nsw.gov.au/projects/programs/fixing-country-roads and www.transport.nsw.gov.au/projects/programs/fixing-country-rail.
