Rio Tinto: Fortescue can appeal rail access decision according to Australia Court

Rio Tinto: Australia Court Says Fortescue Can Appeal Rail Access Decision.
Staff Reporters
Dow Jones MetalSource Steel

SYDNEY -(Dow Jones)- Rio Tinto PLC (RIO) said Friday it plans to defend any appeal by rival Fortescue Metals Group Ltd. (FMG.AU) aimed at securing access to its rail lines in the resource-rich Pilbara region of Western Australia state.
It comes after the High Court of Australia Friday granted Fortescue and the National Competition Council leave to appeal an earlier decision by the Full Federal Court that Rio's rail lines shouldn't be declared as available for access to third parties.
Rio said no date has been set for any appeal hearings, but it's expected that they will be listed in the first half of next year.
"Rio Tinto maintains that the potential costs of access far exceed any theoretical benefits," the Anglo-Australian miner said in a statement.