Rio Tinto has rolled off the first iron‑ore rail car built in the Pilbara, marking the first time the company will manufacture its own haulage vehicles in the region. The new 118‑tonne car was produced at a purpose‑built facility in Karratha, following the completion of 40 cars at Gemco Rail’s Perth plant earlier this year.
The milestone is part of a A$150 million partnership that began in 2023 and will deliver a total of 100 rail cars. The partnership, which also involves CRRC Qiqihar Rolling Stock Co. Ltd and is supported by the Western Australian government, is designed to reduce logistics costs, shorten lead times and create up to 25 local jobs in Karratha.
Rio Tinto’s iron‑ore operations haul more than 300 million tonnes of ore each year across almost 2,000 km of rail. By producing the cars locally, the company can avoid the need to ship components from Perth, cutting truck journeys and associated CO₂ emissions while improving maintenance turnaround times for its fleet of 13,500 rail cars that service 18 Pilbara mines.
The project fits into Rio Tinto’s broader strategy of investing in regional infrastructure and local industry partnerships. In 2024 the company spent a record A$10.3 billion with Western Australian suppliers, and the rail‑car initiative is a tangible example of that commitment, reinforcing the company’s supply‑chain resilience and community engagement in the Pilbara.
Matthew Holcz, Rio Tinto Iron Ore chief executive, said the move “strengthens our business and empowers local communities, supporting regional jobs and creating new economic opportunities in the Pilbara.” Dean Draper, chief executive of Engenco (parent of Gemco Rail), added that the Karratha facility “enhances supply‑chain resilience and supports regional industry while creating employment.” Western Australian Premier Roger Cook noted that the project “diversifies the state’s economy and brings manufacturing back to the Pilbara, creating WA jobs.”
The rail‑car program is a first for the industry in the Pilbara and is expected to begin hauling iron ore this month, further demonstrating Rio Tinto’s commitment to operational efficiency and local investment.
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