THE railway passing loop at Korong Vale has been lengthened to hold bigger trains which carry about $1.3 million worth of produce.
The work, part program to re-rail track, replace sleepers, lengthen passing loops and improve track geometry, is almost complete on the Korong Vale to Manangatang line, one of Victoria’s busiest grain corridors with a growing container train service from Ultima.
The program comes on top of a major siding extension commissioned at Boort in February.  Boort’s GrainCorp siding was extended to 840 metres allowing 50-wagon freight trains upgraded three culverts, boosting speed and efficiency for heavier trains
Additional works will allow trains to operate with heavier loads at higher speeds, cutting times as longer-trains carry greater loads for domestic and export markets.
Works to connect a new grain terminal at North Shore are imminent and final planning is underway for a similar project to follow at Tocumwal, which will further increase volumes of grain moved by rail to port.
In April, V/Line leased 10 N-Class locomotives to a private freight operator on a long-term agreement and they are now hauling freight across the network to support the significant growth in grain and intermodal haulage.  Additional locomotives will enter lease arrangements later this year.
The State Government said this initiative and major government investments were improving operational capacity and efficiency and supporting deployment of longer trains delivering benefits for primary producers and freight operators.
Minister for Ports and Freight Melissa Horne said: “Rail freight investments drive the movement of goods across the state – we’re listening to and working with industry to focus on priority projects resulting in faster, longer and heavier trains.’
“Delivering more capacity for longer freight trains with higher axle-loads that can carry more grain and containerised goods benefits farmers, operators and producers and takes more trucks off our roads.’’
According to the State Government, three per cent more freight was carried on the V/line network this year than last financial year despite a smaller grain harvest.
Regional rail freight upgrades have seen a $470 million investment since 2020, including the most recent $103 million package in the 2025-2026 Victorian Budget.