Goldsworthy railway
| Goldsworthy railway | |
|---|---|
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|
|
| Overview | |
| Type | Heavy rail |
| Status | Operational |
| Locale | Pilbara, Western Australia |
| Termini |
Yarrie mine Finucane Island |
| Operation | |
| Opened | 25 May 1966 |
| Operator(s) | BHP Billiton |
| Depot(s) | Port Hedland |
| Technical | |
| Line length | 208 km (129.25 mi) |
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge |
The Goldsworthy railway, owned and operated by BHP Billiton, is a private rail network in the Pilbara region of Western Australia built to carry iron ore. It is one of two railway lines the group operates in the Pilbara, the other being the Mount Newman railway.
In addition to the BHP Billiton network, there are two more independent iron ore rail lines in the Pilbara. One is operated by Rio Tinto, the Hamersley & Robe River railway, while the other, operated by the Fortescue Metals Group, is the Fortescue railway.
In May 1966 the 112 kilometre Goldsworthy railway opened to transport iron ore from Mount Goldsworthy mine to the port on Finucane Island. The line was extended to Shay Gap in 1972 and Yarrie mine in 1993.
On 1 March 1991 the Goldsworthy Mining and Mount Newman Mining were amalgamated under the BHP Iron Ore brand.
In June 2004, the National Competition Council of Australia received an application from the Fortescue Metals Group (FMG) to use part of the Mount Newman railway and also part of the Goldsworthy railway.
In June 2010, the Australian Competition Tribunal ruled that FMG be granted access to Rio Tinto's Robe River line and BHP Billiton's Goldsworthy line but not to the busier Hamersley and Mount Newman lines. Treasurer Wayne Swan suggested that several advantages would accrue from access to the rail lines by third parties. It would increase competition, reduce duplication of infrastructure, and reduce environmental damage.
Access to the rail networks by third parties is governed by the State Agreements Act.
The Goldsworthy railway is 208 kilometres (129 mi) long, connecting the Yarrie mine to Finucane Island, near Port Hedland.
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