Planning Moves Ahead for Westport Freight Rail Upgrades

Planning is now underway for several freight rail upgrades that will support Western Australia’s future Westport container terminal at Kwinana.

Arup Australia Projects and WSP Australia have been appointed to work with Main Roads WA and the Public Transport Authority on the next stage of planning and project development.

The work includes planning a new freight rail connection linking the future Westport terminal with the existing network, duplication of approximately eight kilometres of track between Kwinana and Cockburn, and duplication of a short section of single track at Kewdale.

It will also look at removing existing level crossings along the Kwinana-Cockburn section, including replacing the North Lake Road level crossing at South Lake with a new bridge.

The aim is to increase freight rail capacity and allow a greater proportion of containers to move by rail as container operations eventually transition from Fremantle to Westport.

The Australian and Western Australian governments have committed $67 million to planning and development activities for the supporting transport network. Importantly, this funding relates to planning and development, construction funding for the rail package has not yet been announced.

For WA’s freight industry, the rail component will be an important part of the wider Westport supply chain. The ability to move more containers by rail will help support future freight volumes while reducing pressure on the road network.

Community consultation is expected to commence later this year as the designs continue to develop.