CBH Group’s Moora site has recently expanded with additional open bulkheads. Photo: CBH Group

COMPLETED rail-freight upgrades at Moora and Cranbrook CBH Group receival sites are supporting the movement of Western Australia’s biggest ever grain harvest.

Delivered late last year, the upgrades were jointly funded by the Federal and WA governments through the $200-million Agricultural Supply Chain Improvements program.

Alongside investment from CBH Group, the Federal Government contributed $160M and the WA Government $40M.

The 2025-26 CBH Group grain harvest sets a new record for WA, exceeding 24 million tonnes, and worth approximately $10 billion to WA economy.

As the harvest enters the out-loading stage, the ASCI projects are building efficiency and capacity into the supply chain, ensuring more of the bumper crop is moved to port during the peak export pricing window.

At Moora, north of Perth, a new loading facility and extended rail siding with a new passing loop means more wagon trains can be loaded in much less time than before.

At Cranbrook, north of Albany, an upgraded and realigned rail siding and new fixed rail loading facility will cut the loading time of a 60-wagon train from about seven to four hours.

Rail-siding upgrades at 11 CBH sites are included in the ASCI program to deliver supply chain efficiencies through targeted rail freight-infrastructure upgrades.

Cranbrook and Moora join Brookton, Broomehill, and Konnongorring as complete, with upgrades at Ballidu and Perenjori to progress in 2026.

Another ASCI project to upgrade the Midland Line between Carnamah and Mingenew has entered the design-and-procurement stage.

When complete, the project will allow 25 percent more grain per wagon to be transported on the line to the Port of Geraldton for export.

“WA grain exports contribute significantly to the national economy and the Albanese and Cook Labor Governments are working together through ASCI to support this sector,” Federal Minister for Infrastructure Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King said .

“The average harvest size in WA has increased significantly over the past five years and the infrastructure delivered through ASCI is essential to supporting this growth.”

WA Agriculture and Food Minister Jackie Jarvis said the efficient movement of grain to port was essential for WA to maintain and grow its market share, in the highly competitive international grain market.

“These latest projects showcase how ASCI infrastructure is reducing bottlenecks in our supply chain and ensuring more grain gets to port during the early season export demand and price peak,” Ms Jarvis said.

Source: WA Government