FMG orders for 260 iron ore rail cars from China

Thursday, 27 Jan 2011

The West Australian reported that Fortescue Metals Group has struck a deal to buy 260 numbers of 40 tonne axel load iron ore rail cars from China's CNR Corp as part of Pilbara expansion ambitions.
The contract signing coincided with a visit by senior FMG executives, thought to include development director Mr Peter Meurs, to China to secure equipment needed for the Pilbara expansion.

Chinese reports claimed the ore cars were the biggest freight wagons in the world, based on their loading capacity.
Fortescue announced the go ahead for its USD 8.4 billion Pilbara expansion two months ago. The expansion will increase Fortescue's iron ore production from 55 million tonnes to 155 million tonnes per annum within three years by increasing capacity at the Chichester Range mines and building a new one at Solomon, in the central Pilbara.

Fortescue has long claimed that its 280 kilometer railway from the Chichester mines to Port Hedland is the world's heaviest line, with its ability to handle 40 tonne axle load ore cars.
FMG's rail fleet already has 15 GE Dash 9 diesel locomotives and 976 freight cars, including fuel and ballast wagons.
CNR has sold 5000 rail cars in to Australia since 1999. Customers include BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto. (Sourced from thewest.com.au)