10,000 welds for tracks on the Adelaide-Tarcoola Rail Upgrade Acceleration Project have been successfully completed. The upgrade, once complete, would enable heavier and faster trains to travel the 720km stretch. It means good news for farmers and miners on a global scale and would benefit domestic consumers as a more cost effective mode of transport.

“This stretch is a critical link in the national supply chain, with 80% of the items transported on land between Australia’s east coast and west coast travelling by rail,” said Federal MP of South Australia Mr Ramsey. “It’s also supporting jobs with up to 130 people employed over the three-year life of the project, and using steel sourced from Arrium’s Whyalla steel mill.”

The Commonwealth has funded the $252million project and is expected to be completed by late 2019.