Port Kembla rail model to identify future bottlenecks
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The Australian Journal of Mining
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Jun 14, 2011 08:51 AM
The Port Kembla Port Corporation and SMART Infrastructure Facility are conducting a research project to model Port Kembla’s rail capacity.
Aerial view of Port Kembla.
The research project will examine the supply chain of bulk products –such as steel, grain and coal –to Port Kembla, including how the existing rail network can support a possible future expansion of the port. The project will also identify potential bottlenecks in the entire coal exporting chain from mine pit to Port Kembla.
“In the case of the Illawarra I think that is code for saying what are the opportunities that sit around the Maldon Dombarton rail link and how can that play a role in making the infrastructure network more productive and more resilient?” said SMART director and chief executive officer, Garry Bowditch.
The research project will be conducted by the SMART facility together with CSIRO. It will focus on issues such as future demand on train lines, passenger and freight trains sharing the same tracks, and the interconnection of the Illawarra and Sydney rail networks.
Port Kembla is a key coal exporting facility which services two of Australia’s richest coal reserves, the Southern and Western coalfields of NSW. Last year $13 billion in trade passed through the port, supporting close to 4,000 jobs.
“The research project will make it possible for the Port Kembla Port Corporation to analyse and decide on possible infrastructure upgrades and expansions, and allow for a more efficient management of port facilities,” Mr Bowditch said.
“The model will enable decision makers to ask different ‘what if questions’ to test various scenarios. For instance, what will the rail capacity be if the trains were longer or there were dedicated freight lines or increased ship handling capability?” Mr Bowditch said.
The project is scheduled to be completed in June 2011.
The SMART Facility is establishing a Rail Institute which has been jointly funded by RailCorp. An important function is to perform simulations and analyses for rail, road and other transport and logistical interdependencies.
Contact: www.smart.uow.edu.au
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