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Media Release

Tranz Rail and Solid Energy Roll Out 22 New Coal Hopper Wagons

Tranz Rail today announced the completion and roll out of the first of 22 specialist coal wagons, designed and built at the Hillside Workshops, Dunedin, for Solid Energy New Zealand Ltd.

The CE bulk export coal wagons were custom built for Solid Energy to assist in exporting increasing tonnages of coal from the company's West Coast mines.

The new wagons have been designed for Solid Energy's West Coast load out facilities and discharge facilities at the Port of Lyttelton.

The new wagons each carry 52 tonnes of coal, on average two tonnes more than the current fleet.

Tranz Rail's General Manager Rail Services Group Noel Coom says the agreement with Solid Energy to build the new wagons highlights the type of long-term customer service relationships Tranz Rail intends to build with its customers.

"Solid Energy is one of our most valued customers," Mr Coom says.

"By tailoring our equipment and services, we've been able to provide Solid Energy with the specialised resources they need to meet the growth in export coal from the South Island coalfields," Mr Coom says.

"We have a clear focus on improving our service levels to Solid Energy and the completion of these wagons is a step towards achieving that goal," he says.

Mr Coom says Tranz Rail has also provided similar services to the dairy industry and other customers with bulk products and specific wagon requirements.

Barry Bragg, General Manager Solid Energy International, says the new wagons were required to help Solid Energy meet increased demand for New Zealand coal internationally.

"Last year a record 1.66 million tonnes of export coal was transported by rail from Solid Energy's West Coast mines to the Port of Lyttleton and, with forward export orders for all coal production out of Stockton and Strongman coal mines, this figure is on target to increase by 10% to 1.8 million tonnes in the current year," Mr Bragg says.

"To meet international demand we need to open new mines and double total production over the next five years to reach around 4 million tonnes per annum by 2006," Mr Bragg says. "Tranz Rail has played a key part in helping Solid Energy to build our international markets and we look forward to continuing our excellent working relationship in the future."