The Mildura Line. What is a platinum service?

The Mildura Line has re-opened after the August derailment that left 9,000 tons of citrus crop totalling millions of dollars of exports from the region stranded due to a derailment near Ouyen in August this year.

Wakefield Transport Group managing director Ken Wakefield said, “The derailment was another example of the Mildura line’s unreliability.  Since the 2011 Floods vital maintenance works have not been completed, clearly more funds need to be allocated than the 2 million dollars last year.”

“I do not understand that a line classified as a platinum line does not receive platinum service standards.   My company has invested in rail infrastructure; we pay for use of the rail line, my clients expect us to deliver on time and on quality to their specified destination.  The condition of the track is the State Government’s responsibility”, Mr. Wakefield said

The derailment in August meant that millions of dollars of exports from Regional Victoria to China were delayed or not delivered.  “The future freight task for this state cannot be met by road transport alone”, Acting Chair of the Alliance of Councils for Rail Freight Development, Cr Geoff White said.  “Farmers, transport operators and port logistics operators have invested in modern world class equipment; the weak link in the chain is the rail network in this state, the current situation must be addressed”, Cr White said.

Another issue of inefficiency and frustration is the speed restrictions on some level crossings, “slowing trains down to 50km/hr while the entire train travels through a crossing, for no demonstrated safety benefit, greatly reduces efficiency and adds to the cost of delivering product to port”, Mr. Wakefield said.

Mr Wakefield and Cr White welcomed the recent interest in the Mildura Line from the State Government as part of the Murray Basin Transport Study and the recently released Freight State Document. The study will investigate the possibility of upgrading the line, together with the New South Wales and South Australian connecting lines to form a transcontinental link.  Both Wakefield Transport and The Alliance of Councils for Rail Freight Development have provided input into the study and consider this project a “Nation Building Project” for the future prosperity for Australia.