Australia's national grain rail freight network is facing derailment with inefficiencies and a lack of investment in infrastructure threatening its survival. Bulk handlers in all States are working to keep the system on track but deregulation and theresulting smaller grain parcels coupled with the lucrative mineral industry means they are facing an uphill battle. Deregulation, an alleged lack of government investment and the wealthy minerals sector are threatening the nation's grain rail system andexperts say producers can almost certainly expect to pay more for rail freight in the future. In Western Australia a 'catastrophic collapse' of the State's grain rail network is feared. The result would be more than 150,000 grain-carrying trucks forced onto the roads each year. The State's major bulk handler CBH, track maintenance outfit WestNet Rail and train operator ARG have proposed a new rail system to save WA's grain rail freight.
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