Port of Melbourne launch rail-enabled pathway at Appleton dock

Port of Melbourne, in partnership with Qube, Australian Amalgamated Terminals and the Victorian Government, has activated a new rail-enabled export pathway for critical minerals at Appleton Dock, marking a significant step in building Victoria’s critical minerals industry to support renewable energy, advanced manufacturing and emerging technologies. The first rail shipment was loaded onto a vessel that departed the port on September 28, 2026. The initiative involves targeted infrastructure upgrades at Appleton Dock, including enhanced wharf infrastructure, improved rail interfaces, streamlined bulk handling processes and specialised equipment to support efficient train-to-ship commodity transfer. The upgrades transition the facility from a general cargo operation to a multimodal logistics hub capable of handling dry bulk commodities with strong integration between rail and maritime operations. The rail-connected infrastructure enables transport of critical minerals from the Qube Ultima Intermodal Terminal to the port for vessel loading and onward delivery for processing.