Rail and road service disruptions - South Australia and Northern Territory
Due to fires in Western Australia, the South Australia to Western Australia and South Australia to Northern Territory rail lines are closed. Estimated reopening of the rail lines is Thursday 17 February 2022.
Roads between South Australia to Northern Territory are open. Escort trucks are operating during day light hours only.
Road closures in north-western Australia include:
Gibbs River Road
Broome-Cape Leveque Road in both directions from Manari to Banana Wells .
The Great Northern Highway is flooded, however remains open
StarTrack Staffing impacts on transport fleet - Northern Territory
Due to staffing impacts, the transport fleet in Darwin is operating at 50% capacity. Some delays are to be expected.
South Australia and Northern Territory
Steady volumes over the weekend. On Sunday, loose freight was loaded at Netley on for dispatch to Western Australia
COVID is impacting staffing across ST processing facilities. A site-by-site plan is in place to minimise any service disruptions.
Rail service disruptions to Northern Territory
Due to the ongoing impacts of flooding and rail line closures, freight ex WA, SA, VIC and TAS continues to be delayed into Darwin.
Additional road linehaul capacity to carry the freight that cannot be put on the trains.
Rain pending, the road and rail line into Darwin will be reassessed on Sunday 13 February 2022 to determine when the repairs will be completed.
The Broome to Darwin service departed Broome on Friday 4 February 2022 as scheduled.
Road service disruptions from Northern Territory
30 bulk pallets ex Melbourne/Sydney/Adelaide for Darwin are delayed and will be transported early this week.
Flooding has also caused road diversions and closures along the Stuart Highway. Trucks are detouring via Broken Hill and Dubbo with Alice Springs product coming in southbound from Darwin causing delays of a few days on items moving into the NT. This is being monitored closely.
Estimated reopening of the road is Sunday 13 February 2022.
When the road reopens, there will be a backlog of freight which will impact ST operations and fleet teams. Large volumes of freight may take over two weeks to sort and clear.
The Broome to Darwin service has commenced, departing from Broome on Monday 31 January 2022. At this stage, articles for Halls Creek, Kununurra and Darwin will return to Broome.
Some freight from Melbourne will be sent to Darwin via Minchinbury and bulk freight will be sent via Brisbane.
On Tuesday 1 February 2022, 80 ULDs were allocated for Alice Springs and 120 ULDs for Darwin on trucks. The network is working to identify a list of these items so we can communicate to affected customers.
On Wednesday 2 February 2022, the delayed freight in Alice Springs were sorted. Subject to space, additional freight was transported on Friday 4 February 2022.
Loose load freight was transported through Melbourne into Sydney and bulk freight through Melbourne into Brisbane.
Freight into Perth is all clear.
Western Australia
On Thursday 3 February 2022 there was a power failure at Welshpool PUD resulting in operations being moved to Kewdale Parcel Centre and delayed delivery of 52 ULDs. Operations resumed on Friday 4th.
Rail service disruptions to Western Australia
Due to the ongoing impacts of flooding and rail line closures in Perth, the contact Centre and depots received high volumes of enquiries about the freight being held up on the trains.
At this stage, the estimated reopening of the rail line is Wednesday 16 February 2022.
When the rail line reopens, there will be a backlog of freight which will impact ST operations and fleet teams. Large volumes of freight may take over two weeks to sort and clear.
4 containers of freight have been recovered from the train and will transported via road ex Adelaide to Perth.
44 containers of Australia Post product and 53 containers of StarTrack Express product that were placed on trains from 18 - 21 January 2022 may be stranded until the line reopens.
From 21 January 2022 all items were placed on trucks and not on trains.
Freight is being transported to the Perth and Kewdale Parcel Centres by road but delays of a few days should be expected.
ST are actively seeking additional road linehaul capacity to carry the freight that cannot be put on the trains.
Road service disruptions into Western Australia
Due to road diversions, freight ex Sydney is delayed into Perth.
The Great Northern Highway re-opened on Thursday 3 February 2022.
Mail and freight services ex Broome to Derby are operating as scheduled.
The Darwin to Broome service (GX680) is scheduled to depart Darwin on Saturday 5 February 2022.
Additional road linehaul capacity is being resourced to carry the freight.
East - West rail service damage as at Thursday 24 January 2022
Victoria and Tasmania
Road service disruptions from Victoria to Western Australia
Due to significant flooding, there is extensive damage along the rail line between Adelaide and Perth. On Friday 4 February 2022, ST carried over 43 bulk and 11 mixed pallets due to capacity. The focus this week is on mixed pallets and to continue to move carried over freight the next day.
New South Wales and Australian Capital Territory
Delivery delays across Leightonfield, Strathfield, Rydalmere, Kingsgrove, Kirrawee, Taren Point, Bega, Batemans Bay, Ulladulla, Oak Flats, Wollongong, Alexandria, Frenchs Forest, New England, St Leonards, Charmhaven, Seven Hills and Castle Hill areas as well as areas of Newcastle.
Road service disruptions from New South Wales
Due to significant flooding, there is extensive damage along the rail line between Adelaide and Perth.
Carried over Freight will be transported ex Sydney last night (Monday 7 February 2022).
Freight ex Sydney is being transported directly to Darwin until further notice. This includes freight for Alice Springs.
Queensland
Delivery delays in Logan City, Bundall, Kenmore, Gladstone, Pinkenba, Staplyton and Narangba areas
On Saturday, there was a linehaul truck fire, 50km south of Rockhampton, on-route to Townsville. Approximately 1000 parcels were impacted. ST is working to identify a list of these items so we can communicate to affected customers.
StarTrack Express into Western Australia
The operational team at ST continues to manage the volumes ex Melbourne and Sydney.
The team is continuing working to secure additional capacity to clear the backlog with the intent to be at baseline today (Monday 7 February 2022).
However, there will be challenges moving large pallet despatches and there will be delays. Most Western Australia volume is transiting through either New South Wales or Victoria and linehaul capacity has been coping well.