WA’s Rail-Over-Road Plans Advance as Terminal Opens

A game-changing freight terminal is now in operation south-east of Perth.

The Kenwick Intermodal Terminal will allow about 200,000 containers to move by rail between the terminal, Fremantle Port, and the future Westport site each year, reducing the need for road freight by 135,000 truck journeys annually. 

The $25-million freight transfer terminal was funded by the Federal and Western Australian governments, each tipping in $5 million, and Arc Infrastructure, who provided $15 million. 

The terminal is part of Arc Infrastructure’s 17ha site that facilitates the transfer of containers from road and rail via connections to the Roe Highway Logistics Park, industrial warehouse precincts and major road freight routes. 

Watco Australia will provide and operate the freight rail fleet.

The terminal also allows Arc Infrastructure to move its operations to Kenwick from a site at Bellevue 1km from the Midland Station. That site has now been earmarked as a future commissioning site for new railcars for the passenger train network.

There is currenty a $50 per 6m (20ft) equivalent unit container rail subsidy provided by the WA government to help the cost effectiveness of rail freight. 

The WA government has a target of moving 20 per cent of container freight by rail as well as larger goals with plans for a new container port at Kwinana, 38km south of Perth.

▲ The Kenwick Intermodal Terminal to be operated by Arc Infrastructure.

That project, Westport, will be supported by the Kenwick terminal and other intermodal terminals, at Kewdale and Forrestfield, as well as an upgraded road and rail freight network. 

“Our Westport planning has shown that containerised freight will grow significantly in the coming decades and the Kenwick IMT gives us a welcome capacity injection into our network,” WA transport minister Rita Saffioti said.

“Together with other hubs in Kewdale and Forrestfield, it is an important part of our landside logistics that will complement a world-leading and sustainable port in Kwinana.”

The state has a long history of shipping goods by rail that began with timber production in the south-west region of the state when harvested jarrah was too dense to transport by water. 

Federal infrastructure minister Catherine King said that improving supply chains was key not just for the state but for the national economy. 

“Western Australia continues to be a big driver of the national economy, and ensuring freight movement is as efficient as possible will continue to grow the economy and create new jobs for Western Australians,” King said.