THE Tier 3 rail deadline is nearing with less than two months until a decision is made on what rail lines, if any, remain open.
The State Government has continued to say it will retain viable Tier 3 lines, but the term 'viable' remains the sticking point.
As it stands, CBH and Brookfield Rail are yet to make a presentation to the State Government regarding what lines are viable and what are not.
It appears CBH and Brookfield are holding their cards close to their proverbial chests as both told Farm Weekly this week they were still in negotiations.
But time is running out for the major players as the October 31 deadline looms.
Wheatbelt Rail Retention Alliance (WRRA) co-ordinator Jane Fuchsbichler said the WRRA was yet to be advised of any progression of negotiations between CBH, Brookfield and the State Government.
"I am frustrated as you can imagine because we have now got a potentially good crop and if I put my grower hat on, we don't know how we are going to get that crop to port at this stage," Ms Fuchsbichler said.
"We do know that CBH brought our freight rates down for the first year of its new trains which was great, but if they close the rail or put it into "care and maintenance" we are going to see our freight rates go up which is exactly what we don't want or need with the current financial difficulties.
"We have had no meetings with CBH or Brookfield because we have been told that there are confidential negotiations going on so we just can't get any information."
If Tier 3 rail lines were to be shut down, WRRA has argued a lot more road trains would be put on the roads at a major potential risk to everyone using the roads.
Some of the roads have been upgraded but Ms Fuchsbichler said they were not up to the required standard.
"The road upgrades which have been done on the Quairading and Shackleton roads, for example, are already falling apart in some places," she said.
Last week, Opposition State Agriculture and Food Minister and Opposition Transport Minister Ken Travers said the Liberal-National coalition would cut almost $1 billion worth of funding for WA roads and rail projects.
Parts of those cuts include upgrades to the Great Northern Highway and North West Coastal Highway, something which Mr Travers said would hamper the Pilbara's ability to continue as the engine room of the national economy.
Ms Fuchsbichler said it seemed like rural areas and road safety have again been put on the back burner by government.
A spokesperson for CBH said the co-operative was continuing negotiations with Brookfield with a view to an access agreement that would provide use of the entire grain rail network, which includes Tier 3.
