Link to Images of First Train Celebrations

Thousands of Territorians, interstate and international visitors attended
community celebrations to welcome the first train throughout the Territory.

Performances and displays entertained more than 10,000 children and adults who arrived early at East Arm Wharf.

The dreams of 100 years were fulfilled for Territorians and South Australians on 17 January, when the first freight train arrived at Darwin's East Arm Wharf from Adelaide.

Community celebrations were held at Alice Springs, Tennant Creek and Katherine before thousands gathered at East Arm Wharf, at the Port of Darwin, for the official proceedings led by Prime Minister, John Howard.

Chief Minister, Clare Martin, said that Territorians had wanted, and worked towards, a railway for more than a hundred years. “There are so many dedicated people who deserve credit for making this day possible,” she said. “To these people, and on behalf of the Territory Government, thank you – you can hold your heads high knowing that you helped make this Territory dream a reality.”

Ms Martin said that the railway has the potential to transform the Northern Territory economically and socially by linking it to Southern Australia and, through the Port of Darwin, with Asia. “Today’s arrival in Darwin marks the end of the first leg of this historic journey and the beginning of a new transport chain for freight and passengers.

“From here, the challenge is to ensure that this railway is as productive as possible and that it delivers on the huge business and job creation potential,” the Chief Minister said.
The first Ghan passenger train leaves Adelaide on Sunday 1 February, arriving in Darwin on 3 February.

The inaugural journey of a freight train on the new AustralAsia Railway marks the debut of the country’s newest freight rail operator, FreightLink. The freight train was the first of an initial five services a week. FreightLink CEO Bruce McGowan said the celebration was the culmination of hard work by a number of people, including all the Asia Pacific Transport/FreightLink consortium partners – Halliburton KBR, Barclay Mowlem, Australian Railroad Group, John Holland Group, Macmahon Holdings, National Asset Management, Colonial First State Investment and the Northern and Central Land Councils. It was also a tribute, he said, to the vision of the Northern Territory, South Australian and Australian Governments and the AustralAsia Railway Corporation.

“The inaugural journey represents the official start of a reliable rail freight service that will deliver the very best to freight forwarders and importers/ exporters while generating commercial opportunities never available previously in the NT, SA and nationwide,” Mr
McGowan said. FreightLink services will be the catalyst for flourishing regional industry development, including new agriculture, mining, aquaculture and tourism ventures as well as exciting new export markets to Australia’s north. It will service a region that, according to Access Economics, will lead the country in average annual economic growth over the next four years. It is envisaged that the railway will carry 80 per cent of existing freight volumes between Adelaide and Darwin.

“We are on course to achieve our aim of securing up to 350,000 tonnes of existing domestic freight in the first few years of operation and a further 450,000 tonnes resulting from other general freight, fuel, agricultural, defence, mining and international trade opportunities,” Mr McGowan said. FreightLink’s confidence was underpinned by the recent signing of a five-year contract with Scott Group’s Northern Territory Freight Services to carry more than 120,000 tonnes of annual freight normally transported by road to Darwin.

Scott Group CEO and Managing Director Allan Scott said the cost-effective service offered by FreightLink was pivotal to the company’s decision to make the transition from road to rail.
“Scott Group’s relationship with FreightLink will enable NTFS’ eastern seaboard customers to access the national rail network for the first time. It will also open up opportunities to expand our business from Sydney and Melbourne,” Mr Scott said. Freightlink has also entered into agreements with freight forwarders Toll Holdings, Northline and FCL, as well as a number of furniture removalists and car carriers, including Patricks and TNT.

Extract from Investing in the Territory - Issued by the Office of Territory Development, Department of the Chief Minister