Long awaited rail siding works start at Wumbulgal site

Works commenced this week on the long-awaited rail siding at AgConnex’s Wumbulgal grain site, aimed at delivering a more efficient grain supply chain for the region.

The 1.5km siding is a key component for the development of the region’s Western Riverina Connect (WR Connect) intermodal freight hub between Griffith and Leeton. It will be accessible to any rail operator. Current site tenants include AgConnex, Medlog Australia and Pyrenees Hay.

AgConnex CEO Geoff Barker says the works represent a very exciting new phase for the business that will add value to grain producers and the local community.

“The rail siding is an integral part of our vision for a world-class grain handling facility right here in the heart of the Riverina.

“Now that it is happening, we will make further upgrades to our own facilities that will triple the amount of grain we can handle and load each week.

“The new capacity will make a substantial difference to our growers and customers and streamline our logistics.

“It will make our site more efficient and better able to handle large grain volumes, which should flow through to lower freight costs and a better price for farmers.

“As a business, it significantly expands our ability to throughput more grain at harvest peaks and allow us to expand our downstream customer and consumer markets for local grain.”

Grain is currently loaded to trains in transit windows on a single main line, when other trains were not operating. Each train carries around 2,500-3,000 tonnes of grain and takes 8-12 hours to load.

“It is a long time on a single line,” Geoff said.

“In peak periods, we sometimes operate through the night to get a train loaded and moving before the line is needed for other trains.

“The timeframes are tight and loading windows can be limited, so these works mean we can load more onto more trains, without the fear of missing the window.”

The new siding is expected to be completed by late October 2025, and potentially in use for this season’s harvest.

“It’s great that we are finally underway with this important investment into the Riverina region.

“We see this new capability at the Wumbulgal site as having great benefit to us, our business partners, and others that come to WR Connect over time.

“And it will take trucks off the road across the region and out of town in Griffith, which everyone will love.

“The capability to load potentially larger trains more often, directly from our silos, will mean that we can offer greater value to local growers and deliver commodities to market as quickly and as efficiently as possible.

“It has taken a while to get here, but we’re excited to see it in place and delivering quickly.”