AWB says each wagon can carry up to 68 tonnes of wheat on main lines - when run in rakes of 40 wagons, each train can move 2700 tonnes.

The wagons are being hauled by specialist freight operator El Zorro, under the agreement with AWB it 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 investment in rail wagons demonstrated the company's ongoing commitment to invest in strategic assets that would provide solutions to growers and end-user customers on the east coast of Australia.

"These wagons, coupled with our efficient GrainFlow sites, will drive a new level of supply chain efficiencies on the east coast and underpin our ability to move grain to port," Mr Davis said.

"We will link our fast and efficient country storage sites to well-planned and managed rail services, to meet the demands of our export and domestic customers.

"In planning this wagon purchase last year we saw that there was 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 our GrainFlow sites."

The wagons are standard gauge, but can be converted to broad gauge for use in Victoria if the need arises.

"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," Mr Davis said.

Meanwhile, AWB will make its first distribution of $195 million FOB (excluding GST) to wheat growers participating in its 2008/09 season wheat pools on Wednesday.

After deduction of supply chain costs, the net payment to growers will be $159 million.