Portfolio — 27 June 2026

Minister for Infrastructure Catherine King announced the commencement of a major sleeper-replacement program on the Midland Line in Western Australia's Mid West region, with Arc Infrastructure replacing approximately 55,000 timber sleepers with concrete and steel equivalents across 78 kilometres of track between Carnamah and Mingenew [TA-260626-infras-2c012f137749:m00AMR].

The engineering change is consequential for agricultural logistics: raising the tonne-axle load from 16 to 19 tonnes will allow each train to carry 25 percent more grain, directly reducing freight costs for growers in the region [TA-260626-infras-2c012f137749:m00AMR]. The Midland Line currently moves about half a million tonnes of grain each year to Geraldton Port for CBH Group, making it a critical link in Western Australia's grain export chain, and the upgrade is scheduled for completion by early 2027 following a temporary line closure [TA-260626-infras-2c012f137749:m00AMR].

The funding structure draws on the $200 million Agricultural Supply Chain Improvements program. The Australian Government contributes $160 million and the Western Australian Government $40 million, with both governments providing a further $45 million for design and materials. Arc Infrastructure adds $22 million for construction.

The program's co-funding model — splitting cost across federal, state, and private-sector parties — is consistent with the portfolio's stated approach to regional rail investment.

This announcement extends a pattern visible across Minister King's recent activity. The prior day's Twelve Apostles Visitor Precinct announcement similarly involved joint Commonwealth-state funding directed at regional economic infrastructure. Both projects reflect a portfolio emphasis on co-funded, place-specific investments that combine near-term construction employment with longer-run productivity gains — here, for grain exporters rather than tourism operators.

No parliamentary record is available for this date; today's activity is drawn from the ministerial media release alone.