Parkes is going to be the rail freight capital of Australia with plans to build the biggest freight terminal in the country at a cost of $35 million. CEO of Australia’s largest rail freight operator, Pacific National Dean Dalla Valle was in Parkes on Tuesday to unveil the site at the Parkes Logistics Hub with Mayor Ken Keith. “This project will turn our dream of the Parkes Logistics Hub into reality,” the Mayor said.
“It is wonderful to be here at the site,” said Dean. “Located at the intersection of the main western railway line running from Sydney to Perth, the future Inland Rail corridor from Melbourne to Brisbane, and the Newell Highway, Parkes is the perfect place to establish a major intermodal freight terminal,” Dean said.
Once fully operational, the terminal will have the capacity to process up to 500,000 cargo containers each year, including the ability to haul double-stacked containers from Parkes to Perth.
Construction of Parkes Logistics Terminal will generate 50 full time jobs and opportunities for local construction work, while the future terminal will provide up to 20 new skilled jobs including train drivers and terminal crew.
The double lane terminal will be 1.8km long, making it the biggest in the country with Perth’s 1.2km terminal the second longest.