Rio Tinto's first Pilbara-made iron ore rail car has rolled off the production line in Karratha, as part of a AUD 150 million partnership with Gemco Rail to build 100 rail cars in Western Australia and to support local manufacturing. The first Karratha-made rail car follows the completion of 40 Western Australian-made iron ore rail cars under the partnership at Gemco Rail's Perth facility earlier this year, with the remaining cars to be built at a new purpose-built facility in Karratha. Machinery to assemble the iron ore rail cars and complete bearing refurbishment work, has been relocated from Perth to the new Gemco Rail facility.
The Karratha workshop will create up to 25 local jobs. The Karratha-made rail cars will begin hauling iron ore from Rio Tinto's 18 Pilbara iron ore mines to its Dampier and Cape Lambert port facilities this month. The new rail cars can each carry up to 118 tonnes of iron ore.
The partnership demonstrates Rio Tinto's commitment to local manufacturing and supporting the communities where it operates. It was formed in 2023 by Rio Tinto, Gemco Rail and CRRC Qiqihar Rolling Stock Co. Ltd. and was supported by the Western Australian Government.
The Gemco Rail deal reinforces Rio Tinto's commitment to partnering with local businesses to create jobs and strengthen regional communities. In 2024, Rio Tinto invested a record AUD 10.3 billion with Western Australian suppliers.
