ABC NT Local News
Tuesday 20 December 2005

The freight operator on the Adelaide-to-Darwin rail line says it is still unclear whether it will carry uranium oxide from the Olympic Dam mine in South Australia on a regular basis.

Freightlink was involved in a three-month trial this year carrying uranium oxide on rail to Darwin.

Freightlink chief executive officer John Fullerton says the company is still waiting for a decision from the mine's owner, BHP Billiton.

But he says it would help boost rail freight volume.

"It's an important part of our business but it still would only ever remain a very small part," Mr Fullerton said.

"There aren't large numbers of boxes of uranium that are exported but it's still an important part of our business - it helps establish the international trade through the Port of Darwin."