Rio Tinto rolls out first Pilbara-made iron-ore rail car
Diversified miner Rio Tinto has unveiled its first Pilbara-made iron-ore rail car, manufactured in Karratha under a A$150-million partnership with Gemco Rail aimed at boosting local production capacity in Western Australia.
The milestone marks the beginning of a programme to build 100 rail cars in the state. It follows the completion of 40 units at Gemco’s Perth facility earlier this year, with the remaining cars now set to be produced at the new purpose-built Karratha workshop.
As part of the transition, assembly machinery and bearing refurbishment equipment have been moved from Perth to Karratha, where the facility is expected to create up to 25 local jobs.
The rail cars, each able to haul up to 118 t of iron-ore, will begin transporting material from Rio Tinto’s 18 Pilbara mines to its Dampier and Cape Lambert ports this month.
Formed in 2023 with support from the Western Australian government, the partnership between Rio Tinto, Gemco Rail and CRRC Qiqihar Rolling Stock is part of the miner’s push to support local manufacturing and strengthen regional supply chains.
“Our government brought railcar manufacturing back to Perth, and we’re proud to see businesses like Rio Tinto and Gemco Rail get behind our State’s industry, build more things here and create WA jobs," commented Western Australia Premier Roger Cook.
Rio Tinto invested a record A$10.3-billion with Western Australian suppliers in 2024, and the Gemco partnership forms part of this broader commitment.
Rio Tinto Iron Ore CE Matthew Holcz said the group was "thrilled to be working with partners to bring iron-ore rail car manufacturing to the Pilbara for the first time".
“Local manufacturing strengthens not only our business, it also empowers local communities, supports regional jobs and creates new economic opportunities in the Pilbara.”
Rio Tinto currently operates about 13 500 iron-ore rail cars across its Pilbara network and typically replaces about ten units each year.
