Ann: Arrowsmith Silica Sand Project, page-62

I'm guessing diesel will be more expensive out of the metro area. You also need to cost the driver and the road train. I would expect the diesel to be insignificant compared to those costs:

Loading time - dunno - say 1 hour - assume no queue
Time to port - 1.5 hours
Unload - 1 hour - assume no queue
Back to the mine 1.5 hours.

I assume that at a push, you could get two trips out of a road train per day so you are talking about 16 or so road trains 5 days per week, 52 weeks per year to move those quantities. Obviously, it can be done, but a train with dedicated siding would be cost effective against that.

All very speculative here - I assume that there will be members with actual knowledge in this area who could give realistic idea of the costs and benefits.

Cheers,

Keith.