WA Labor’s freight rail plan to deliver massive benefits for Geraldton and Mid West communities

Communities and farmers in Geraldton and the Mid West will be the big winners under WA Labor’s commitment to bring the State’s freight rail network back into Government hands.
  • WA Labor committed to bringing freight rail back into Government hands
  • Mid West and Geraldton communities and farmers to be the big winners
  • Better use of freight rail network will get trucks off local roads
  • Freight rail network was privatised by the Liberal National Government in 2000
  • Demands on the freight rail network have grown substantially in recent years
  • Public control will help unlock greater economic activity, and support industry, farmers and regional communities

Communities and farmers in Geraldton and the Mid West will be the big winners under WA Labor’s commitment to bring the State’s freight rail network back into Government hands.

The Cook Labor Government announced in January it would enter negotiations with current operator Arc Infrastructure to bring the freight network back under public control.

The State’s freight rail network was sold off by the Liberals and Nationals in 2000, with Western Australia counting the cost ever since.

Growth in grain production and more mining operations throughout the Mid West have seen significant increases in exports from the Port of Geraldton in recent years.

Under the terms of the existing lease agreement, the State Government has little ability to support key industries make better use of the State’s freight rail network, which has resulted in a dramatic increase in the number of trucks using Mid West roads.

Greater public control would allow for more targeted Government investment in the freight rail network, delivering significant benefits including:

  • increased use of the freight rail network, reducing the reliance on heavy vehicles carting freight by road;
  • improved safety on roads, by reducing the number of trucks;
  • greater capacity to meet the demand being driven by new resource projects and growth in output from the agriculture sector, supporting future WA jobs;
  • cost savings for industry through the more efficient movement of grain and commodities to and from the State's ports, to ensure WA remains globally competitive;
  • ability to improve the frequency and journey times for regional rail services, like the Australind;
  • greater flexibility for regional communities, who have been prohibited and limited in relation to what activities they can undertake in close proximity to rail corridors;
  • greater involvement and potential partnerships with local WA businesses; and
  • more opportunities for tourism investment, particularly tracks that are underutilised or under care and maintenance.

A re-elected Cook Labor Government will progress negotiations with Arc Infrastructure and will make a final decision if it is economically and financially responsible to do so.

Comments attributed to Premier Roger Cook:

“Since we announced our plan to bring freight rail back into Government hands, we’ve heard loud and clear from regional communities they want this to happen."

“This is a sensible plan that will deliver a multitude of benefits for our State, and the opposition by the Liberals and Nationals will no doubt be bitterly disappointing for regional communities."

"The demand on the State's freight rail network has grown significantly and we want to make sure we're moving as much freight as possible to and from our ports by rail."

“Only WA Labor will take action to get heavy vehicles off our road network and protect future WA jobs by bringing freight rail back into Government hands.”

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