Western Australian grain co-op CBH Group has introduced a new fleet of narrow-gauge locomotives and wagons, marking a “major milestone” for its supply chain.
The investment is part of the farmer-owned co-op’s Path to 2033 Strategy and includes 17 new custom-built narrow-gauge locos and 650 new grain wagons.
Half of the CM20ACi narrow-gauge locomotives, delivered from Wabtec Corporation’s Brazil facility, are now in operation, alongside wagons manufactured by CRRC Meishan in China.
A further seven standard-gauge locomotives are expected to arrive from December, completing the new fleet.
The new rolling stock will expand CBH’s existing fleet of 25 locomotives and 572 wagons, purchased in 2012, and will take its owned fleet to 49 locomotives and 1,222 wagons, excluding leased assets.
“This milestone is about more than new locomotives and wagons,” said CEO Ben Macnamara. “It shows CBH’s co-operative model in action: reinvesting grower value into the supply chain WA growers own and rely on.
“As custodians of that supply chain, CBH’s role is to keep investing in the infrastructure, capacity and capability growers need now and into the future.
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“The new fleet will support the co-operative’s Path to 2033 Strategy goal of increasing grain export capacity towards 3 million tonnes a month by 2033, while strengthening a safer, more reliable and more efficient pathway to market for WA growers.”
The new fleet is part of CBH’s broader investment across rail fleet, outloading and network capacity, added Macnamara. He said the Path to 2033 investment programme is already delivering benefits, with strong monthly grain exports – including 2.5 million tonnes in January. The co-op is aiming for a target of 3 million tonnes a month by 2033.
“New trains are only part of the story,” said Mcnamara. “They deliver the greatest value when paired with faster outloading, longer sidings and better network capacity..
“This investment is about putting grower capital back into the network — improving the way WA grain moves from paddock to port and onto customers around the world.”
CBH’s broader network investment has been delivered through the Agricultural Supply Chain Improvements (ASCI) Program – jointly funded by the Western Australian and Commonwealth governments. Under Package 1 of the programme, government funding is supporting the upgrade of rail sidings at 11 CBH sites, enabling longer trains to load faster, reducing bottlenecks and increasing the co-operative’s capacity to move grain to port during peak demand.
