CBH completes first ASCI rail siding extension project at Brookton

The CBH Group (CBH) has completed the Brookton rail siding extension, which is the first rail siding project finished under the Agricultural Supply Chain Improvements (ASCI) program.

Funded in partnership with the Western Australian and Commonwealth Governments under Package 1 of the $200 million ASCI Program, Brookton is one of 11 rail siding projects being undertaken by CBH.

Construction of the 650-metre-long siding started in February 2023 and was completed less than six months later.

CBH Chief Executive Officer Ben Macnamara said it was an exciting milestone to have finished the first project as part of the ASCI program.

“I want to thank the Western Australian and Commonwealth Governments for their commitment to invest in our state’s agricultural infrastructure to boost regional economies,” Mr Macnamara said.

“Thank you to everyone at CBH who worked on the project, and to contractors Multiplant and Railtrain, for their skills and experience in delivering this project safely and ahead of schedule.”

CBH is already experiencing the productivity and reliability benefits provided by the expansion.

“The newly extended rail siding is already delivering benefits through reduced train turnaround times, simpler shunting plans, less manual handling, and improved safety,” Mr Macnamara said.

“The time it takes to load a standard 50-wagon train has been reduced by over an hour, which is having an immediate effect on our outloading capacity, ensuring our supply chain can export more grain to customers when needed.

“We are loading longer trains at Brookton, further improving the efficiency and reliability of our rail operations.”

A pre-feasibility study is underway to upgrade the rapid rail loading facility at Brookton, which will further increase the outloading performance of the site and unlock the further benefits from the new siding.

Of the remaining ASCI-funded projects, construction is underway at the Broomehill rail siding extension, and construction is scheduled to start at the Cranbrook and Moora projects in the March quarter of 2024. CBH is progressing the remaining seven rail siding extension projects with an aim to have them ready for execution by the end of 2024.