Infrastructure
Fortescue purpose-designed and constructed rail and port facilities to support the development and sale of the Pilbara's stranded iron ore bodies. The infrastructure at Herb Elliott Port comprises some of the largest and most technologically sophisticated equipment in the world. While the Fortescue railway was the first large-scale railway development undertaken in the Pilbara in more than 40 years, and has generated significant attention in both Australia and worldwide. Fortescue's railway is currently the heaviest haul line in the world with a 40 tonne axle load capacity.
The infrastructure philosophy is of an open third party access regime for other mining users as espoused by the Government. Fortescue's open-access infrastructure will increase the throughput capacity of Port Hedland and remove a fundamental barrier to entry for junior mining companies. As a result, increased production, competition and efficiencies will result for the bulk mineral exports in the Pilbara region.