'The '''Pilbara rail network''', majority-owned and operated by [[Rio Tinto]], is a private rail network in the [[Pilbara]] region of [[Western Australia]] for the purpose of carrying iron ore. With 1,300 kilometres of track, it is the largest privately owned heavy freight rail network in [[Australia]].<ref name="Pilbara" >[http://www.riotintoironore.com/ENG/operations/301_pilbara.asp Pilbara] Rio Tinto Iron Ore website, accessed: 4 November 2010</ref> <ref name="Rail" >[http://www.riotintoironore.com/ENG/operations/497_rail.asp Rail] Rio Tinto Iron Ore website, accessed: 4 November 2010</ref> Additionally to the Rio Tinto network, there is also two independent rail lines, operated by [[BHP Billiton]], in the Pilbara. The Newman and the Goldsworthy line, the first from [[Newman, Western Australia|Newman]] and the second from the Yarrie mine, both run to [[Port Hedland]], also for the purpose of transporting iron ore.<ref>[http://www.bhpbilliton.com/bb/ourBusinesses/ironOre/rail.jsp Rail] BHP Billiton website, accessed: 5 November 2010</ref> ==History== [[Image:Hamersley Iron 2000 locomotive, Dampier.jpg|thumb|right|A retired [[Hamersley Iron]] [[ALCO Century 628|Alco C628]] locomotive at 7 Mile Yard, [[Dampier, Western Australia]].]] The rail network first begun operation in 1966, when a line from [[Tom Price, Western Australia|Tom Price]] to [[Dampier, Western Australia|Dampier]] was run. The network was later expanded with the construction of spur lines to [[Paraburdoo]], Marandoo, Brockman and the Yandicoogina mines.<ref>[http://www.railway-technology.com/projects/hamersley/ Hamersley Freight Line, Australia] railway-technology.com, accessed: 4 November 2010</ref> As of 2010, the network services 11 mines in the Pilbara region, transporting 220 million tonnes of iron ore from there to the ports of Dampier and at [[Cape Lambert]] annually.<ref name="Rail" /> In May 2008, Rio Tinto suffered a setback when the Federal Court of Australia rejected an attempt by Rio to block the [[Fortescue Metals Group]] from using their rail network.<ref>[http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/05/06/2236844.htm Rio Tinto suffers setback over Pilbara rail network] ''[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation|ABC News]]'', published: 6 May 2008, accessed: 4 November 2010</ref> Following this, in June 2010, the [[Australian Competition Tribunal]] ruled that Fortescue would be granted access to the Robe River line and [[BHP Billiton]]'s Goldsworthy line but not to the busier Hamersley and Mount Newman lines.<ref>[http://www.lloydslistdcn.com.au/archive/2010/july/01/tribunal-grants-limited-access-to-pilbara-iron-ore-exporters Junior miners win limited access to Pilbara rail network ] lloydslistdcn.com.au, published: 1 July 2010, accessed: 4 November 2010</ref> <ref>[http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/accc-can-demand-pilbara-rail-expansion/story-e6frg8zx-1225865745027 Watchdog 'can demand Pilbara rail expansion'] ''[[The Australian]]'', published: 13 May 2010, accessed: 4 November 2010</ref> Treasurer [[Wayne Swan]] declared that access to the rail lines by third parties would increase competition, stop infrastructure double-ups and reduce damage to sensitive native title and environmental regions.<ref>[http://www.news.com.au/bhp-rio-angry-over-rail-access/story-0-1111117874717 BHP Billiton, Rio Rinto angry on open Pilbara rail line] news.com.au, published: 28 October 2008, accessed: 4 November 2010</ref> Acces to the rail networks by third parties is governed by the State Agreements Act.<ref>[http://www.istp.murdoch.edu.au/ISTP/casestudies/Pilbara/economic/Infrastructure.html Report on Current Transport and Communications Infrastructure in the Pilbara] [[Murdoch University]], accessed: 4 November 2010</ref> ==Trains== Each train comprises of up to 234 ore cars, each ore car with a load capacity of approximately 106 tonnes. A fully loaded train weighs approximately 29,500 tonnes and is about 2.4 kilometres in length. Each train has an average cycle time of 28 hours.<ref name="Rail" /> The network operates the following locomotives:<ref name="Rail" /> * 72 x [[GE Dash-9]] * 51 x [[GE Evolution Series]] * 5 x [[GE Dash-8]] ==Rail depots== Rail depots are located at Tom Price, Cape Lambert and Dampier while the train control is based in Perth.<ref name="Rail" /> ==Mines== The rail network transports ore from the following Rio Tinto-operated mines to the ports at Dampier and Cape Lambert:<ref name="Mining" >[http://www.riotintoironore.com/ENG/operations/497_mining.asp Mining] Rio Tinto Iron Ore website, accessed: 4 November 2010</ref> * Brockman mine (consisting of Brockman 2 and 4) * Nammuldi mine * Mount Tom Price mine * Marandoo mine * Mesa A mine * Mesa J mine * Paraburdoo mine * Channar mine * Eastern Range mine * West Angelas mine * Yandicoogina mine * Hope Downs mine ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== * [http://www.pilbararailways.com.au/ Pilbabra Railways website] [[Category:Railway lines in Western Australia]] [[Category:Rail transport in Western Australia]] [[Category:Pilbara region of Western Australia]] [[Category:Mining in Western Australia]]'