Rio Tinto has officially unveiled the first iron ore rail car to be fully constructed in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.
This landmark vehicle, built by Australian rail industry supplier Gemco Rail at its new purpose-built Karratha facility, marks a major milestone in a joint $150 million partnership charged with fortifying local manufacturing and supply chain resilience.
The scale of this local initiative reflects the importance of the rail network itself.
“We’re thrilled to be working with our partners to bring iron ore rail car manufacturing to the Pilbara for the first time,” Rio Tinto iron ore chief executive Matthew Holcz said.
“Our WA operations haul more than 300 million tonnes of iron ore across almost 2000km of rail tracks every year. Local manufacturing strengthens not only our business; it also empowers local communities, supports regional jobs and creates new economic opportunities in the Pilbara.”
This production breakthrough follows the earlier completion of 40 Western Australian-made rail cars produced at Gemco Rail’s Perth location. The remaining vehicles, including this first Pilbara-built unit, will now be assembled in the heart of the Western Australian mining region. The Karratha workshop, where they are being assembled, will support up to 25 new local jobs.
The new rail cars are immediately vital to operations. They are beginning service this month to transport iron ore from Rio Tinto’s 18 Pilbara mines to its Dampier and Cape Lambert port facilities. Each car is engineered to haul 118 tonnes of iron ore, ensuring peak operational efficiency across the network.
The project aligns with state policy. Western Australian Premier Roger Cook has made locally produced manufacturing a key focus in recent months under the ‘Made in WA’ plan, and he spoke glowingly of Rio Tinto and Gemco Rail’s joint commitment.
“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,” Cook said. “I’d like to congratulate Rio Tinto and Gemco Rail on today’s milestone, which has brought Made in WA railcars to the heart of our country’s economic engine room.”
