The Port of Melbourne has said they have “broken ground” on its new Port Rail Transformation Project (PRTP).
The project aims to enable more containers to be moved by rail more efficiently, bypassing roads in inner Melbourne. This is to be done by increasing rail terminal capacity and improving rail terminal operations at the port.
The PRTP involves the development and construction of a new rail terminal linked to the Swanson Dock East International Container Terminal. This rail terminal will include two new sidings that can handle 600-metre-long trains.
General rail infrastructure is also set to be upgraded.
Additionally, a new road to facilitate an uninterrupted connection for movement of containers between the new rail terminal and the wider Swanson Dock precinct will also be constructed. The Port of Melbourne has been in talks with Seymour Whyte Constructions for this development.
Lastly, port side infrastructure to welcome future metropolitan shuttles through the Victorian Government’s Port Rail Shuttle Network will also be provided.
Completion of the PRTP is scheduled for mid-2023.
“We are really excited to see this project coming out of the ground. Port of Melbourne is committed to investing in rail infrastructure to move more freight by rail,” said Saul Cannon, Chief Executive Officer for the Port of Melbourne.
“We know that freight on rail has stagnated in the past ten years, we want to turn that around. The PRTP opens up new opportunities for metropolitan freight movements on rail.”
The project comes as part of the Port of Melbourne’s 2050 Port Development Strategy, which defines the critical infrastructure needs to support the economic growth of Victoria.
On 8 February 2022, PTI will be holding its Intermodal Freight Forum Europe delving into the pressing challenges and trends in intermodal freight transport. The event is set to bring together senior decision-makers from the intermodal transport network, addressing a wide range of issues from data standardisation to the lack of capacity in ports and rail.
Registration for the event can be done here.
