grain by train in vic (weekly times)

[Andrei Souprounovich <s9505836@minyos.its.rmit.edu.au>]

Just some info from the paper. Interesting that a rail operator is saying
that there aren't enough trucks on the road :-)
Andrei (Hughedale VIC)

stories written by Peter Hemphill
from 'the weekly times' - pp3&7 of'grains today/tommorow' lift-out (Oct20
'99)

Appleton dock facility---------------------

-Construction of stage 1 costing $40 million is well down track,
should be open before grain harvest begins to roll in
-Stage 1 is grain export facility
-storage for 48,000 t
-20 silos; 750 t - 12,000 t
-provision for further 8 silos of 1,500 t for total of 60,000 t at current
site
-capability to fill 35,000 t ship in one hit

grain ARRIVAL
-trains to be split into 2 lots of 20 wagons and unloaded at rate of 1000
t/hr
-truck receivals at 450 t/hr
grain DEPARTURE (?-despatch )
-ship loading 1,500 t/hr
-truck loading 300 t/hr

plans are to employ 8-9 full-time staff, and others as required.

Stage 2 are opportunities such as fertiliser imports,mineral
sands,woodchip exports

Grain transport issues----------------------

Mr Roche (FV grains group business manager) said FV charged growers
$4.50/t for on-farm p/u within 100km of silo. Greater than 100km is $9/t.
The truck drivers are paid at a different rate however. It pays them
$5.30/t for 10-19km rising to $12.40/t for 100km.

FV has had to turn down ABA's(AustBulkAlliance) request for on farm p/u
service because of not enough trucks, to deliver to the Nullawil facility.
Mr Roche said there was,'an inability to source enough trucks to provide
the service.'