18 January 2004
Another
customer secured as freight train service continues to grow
Media
Releases
Media Release Archive
Speeches
This page is
maintained by the
Office of the Chief Minister
The
Chief
Minister Clare Martin said that the deal would result in more freight
being moved into and out of the Territory by rail.
“The
deal is another railway highlight in what has been an exciting few weeks
for the new freight train service,” she said.
“FCL
Interstate Transport Services will now be one of the new rail operator’s
biggest customers, generating an estimated 50,000 tonnes of freight.”
Ms Martin said that, under the deal, FCL will also operate
FreightLink’s terminals in Tennant Creek and Katherine and plans to
establish depots to accommodate an expansion of FCL’s rail based
transport operations in these centres.
“This deal comes just days after FreightLink secured a contract to
transport 120, 000 tonnes of freight for Scott Group’s Northern
Territory Freight Services,” she said.
“FreightLink’s annual first year target of up to 350, 000 tonnes
of existing domestic freight is now well within reach.”
“The company says it’s confident of increasing this by a further 450,000 tonnes of freight within three years thanks agreements with forwarders Toll Holdings, Northline and other domestic and international customers.”
Ms Martin said that it was encouraging that FCL was able to see the huge
potential for transporting produce and refrigerated product out of the
Territory and decided to give the railway a try.
“The early signs for the train are positive and its economic and time saving potential will only become more evident once the new railway becomes more established,” she said.
“Territorians have embraced this train and business too are coming on board.”
The first passenger service, The Ghan, leaves Adelaide on 1 February arriving in Darwin on 3 February. More than $15 million in tickets have already been sold.