AWB has moved to address the shortage of grain trains in eastern Australia, with 84 newly-constructed grain wagons just starting operations.

Each wagon can carry up to 68 tonnes of wheat on main lines, so when run in rakes of 40 wagons, each train can move 2,700 tonnes.

The wagons are being hauled by specialist freight operator El Zorro, under its agreement with AWB announced last year. The new wagons increase to four the number of dedicated grain train sets now operating though this arrangement.

AWB managing director Gordon Davis said the wagons, coupled with the company's GrainFlow sites, will drive a new level of supply chain efficiencies on the east coast and underpin the ability to move grain to port.

The company will link country storage sites to well-planned and managed rail services to meet the demands of AWB's export and domestic customers, he said.

Davis said the wagon purchase was planned because of a looming shortage of grain rail capacity and a clear need for new, high-capacity equipment that could make full use of the capabilities of AWB's GrainFlow sites.

The wagons are standard gauge, although could be converted to broad gauge for use in Victoria if the need arose, he said.

''In addition to our own sites, El Zorro will operate these trains from other company's facilities, wherever tonnage is available and rapid, efficient loading and turnaround can be achieved - this latter point is the key to being a competitive freight provider, offering best freight rates to customers and achieving strong fleet utilisation,'' Davis said.