GE partners with Rio Tinto for Pilbara rail maintenance

GE will provide maintenance services and support for Rio Tinto’s locomotive network in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, under a five-year agreement.

GE will apply its expertise in locomotive service and enable more rapid access to material and parts, reducing downtime and enhancing fleet reliability in the largest privately owned and operated rail system in the country.

“Working inside Rio Tinto’s maintenance workshops in Karratha and Cape Lambert, we’ll have direct line of sight to daily operations, and be able respond right away to issues and advise in areas we can optimise,” said Dwight Van Roy, CEO of GE Transportation in Australia and New Zealand.

Jen Mackenzie, Rio Tinto Rail Maintenance general manager, said “As we move into a new era for commodities, this type of business model will allow us both to focus on areas where we can deliver the most value.”