A new grain terminal at Barnes, near in Echuca in Victoria, will soon see freight trains moving bulk grain for domestic and export markets, reducing the reliance on trucks on regional roads.
A four-kilometre section of the previously closed Moulamein Line will allow for the new terminal to begin operating. This also follows a $10 million upgrade of the Echuca-Barnes-Deniliquin freight corridor which was completed in late-2023.
The Barnes Junction grain terminal will support longer, faster, heavier trains moving more goods by rail across a more resilient network, improving reliability and efficiency for producers and operators.
The Barnes upgrade is a boost to Victoria’s freight rail system that plays a vital role in transporting regional produce to port and a further signal to industry that the broad-gauge freight network is important and growing.
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Plans for construction of a hardstand will eventually enable loading of containerised goods from the region to also be moved south by rail.
Minister for Ports and Freight Melissa Horne said the new connection will be a win for farmers, operators and regional producers.
“As the first new grain terminal connected to the state’s rail freight network in 30 years, this is a significant milestone and there are more to come which will grow rail-freight volumes from paddock to port,” Horne said.
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