Editing Transport in Australia (section)

=== Mining railways ===
Six heavy-duty [[mining railways]] carry iron ore to ports in the northwest of [[Western Australia]]. These railways carry no other traffic and are isolated by deserts from all other railways. The lines are [[standard gauge]] and are built to the heaviest US standards. Each line is operated by one of either [[BHP]], [[Rio Tinto (corporation)|Rio Tinto]], [[Fortescue (company)|Fortescue]] and [[Hancock Prospecting]].

A common carrier railway was proposed to serve the port of [[Oakajee Port]] just north of [[Geraldton]], but this was later cancelled after a collapse in the iron ore price.<ref>Mixed fortunes for Western Australian rail projects ''[[International Railway Journal]]'' January 2013 page 8</ref>