The owner of the Adelaide to Darwin rail line says it is working with customers to reroute freight and minimise disruption, after a freight train partially derailed along a single-track section on Thursday morning.
The incident has prompted the Northern Territory's Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics (DIPL) to advise people against panic-buying, reassuring people supply of essential supplies would not be impacted.
Five wagons of the freight train came off the track 60 kilometres south of the town of Tennant Creek, according to Northern Territory Police, but there were no reports of injuries and no hazardous materials on board.
Speaking to the ABC, a spokesman for rail operator Aurizon said the line remained blocked on Friday morning, more than 24 hours after the incident.
He said crews were at the scene but reassured the public there had been no spillage of any cargo.
A DIPL spokeswoman said the line was expected to be repaired and opened by Monday evening "pending weather and access".
"Territorians are advised there is no need for panic buying. There is not expected to be any major disruptions to freight shipments as a result of this incident," she said.
"The Northern Territory government will continue to liaise with the operator and grocery suppliers to ensure supply chain continuation."
The Aurizon spokesman said the company was working with its customers to reroute freight by road to their final destinations.
The ABC has contacted the operator of the only passenger service on the Adelaide to Darwin rail line, The Ghan, which has twice-weekly services between the two capitals.
A service was meant to depart from Alice Springs bound for Katherine and Darwin at 6:15pm Thursday.
The rail link between Adelaide and Darwin is no stranger to disruption.
Last year the line and nearby Stuart Highway were closed for days due to flooding in South Australia, causing supermarket shortages in Darwin and Alice Springs.
