Seven more narrow gauge locomotives arrive in WA

CBH’s rail fleet has received another major boost, with seven new narrow‑gauge locomotives now safely on the ground in Western Australia — marking an exciting milestone in our ongoing fleet expansion.

The locomotives arrived in early April from Wabtec Corporation’s Contagem manufacturing facility in Brazil. Following arrival at the Australian Marine Complex in Henderson, all seven have now been transported to Aurizon’s Forrestfield yard, where commissioning works are underway.

The newest arrivals join the first three locomotives delivered in January, bringing the total number of new narrow‑gauge locomotives in Australia to ten. The remaining seven locomotives are scheduled to arrive in June.

First live runs a success

At the same time, the team successfully completed the first live operational trials of the new locomotives on the WA freight rail network, operated by Arc Infrastructure.

A consist of three locomotives undertook test runs through the South West, operating to Coolup, Pinjarra and Wellard to validate performance under real-world conditions.

We’re pleased to report the trials were a success, with those locomotives now relocated to Aurizon’s Avon yard for follow up works.

Our new locomotives

The ten locomotives delivered to date are:

• 201 – Pindar

• 202 – Bindi Bindi

• 203 – Woodanilling

• 204 – Mawson

• 205 – Badgebup

• 206 – Sullivan

• 207 – Maya

• 208 – Bowgada

• 210 – Welbungin

• 211 – Yornaning

These names continue a long standing CBH tradition first established in 2011, recognising former CBH sites that played an important role in the cooperative’s history.

Building capacity for the future

This milestone supports CBH’s Path to 2033 Strategy, with increased rail capability playing a critical role in our goal of being able to export three million tonnes per month.

The narrow gauge locomotives complement a broader program of rail investment, including:

• 650 new wagons (more than 500 already delivered, with the remainder due mid 2026)
• Seven new standard gauge locomotives, currently being manufactured by Progress Rail and expected to arrive later this year

This progress reflects the dedication and collaboration of teams across CBH and our delivery partners. A big thank you to everyone involved in making this project a reality and helping strengthen CBH’s rail network for the future.