New locomotives in Pilbara

Rio Tinto PLC
11 February 2008

New generation locomotives arrive in the Pilbara

11 February 2008

The first instalment of a fleet of new generation locomotives has arrived in
Dampier to haul iron ore on Rio Tinto's 1,300 kilometre Pilbara rail network.

The 10 locomotives mark the beginning of a major investment in rail
infrastructure and rolling stock to keep pace with rapid mine expansions and
increases in port capacity.

Rio Tinto will progressively upgrade its locomotive fleet to the new General
Electric model, which will produce significantly lower emissions than existing
diesel engines.

The first 10 locomotives will immediately boost Rio Tinto's rail capacity
following the ahead-of-schedule start of mining at Hope Downs in November 2007.

Rio Tinto intends to purchase a further 30 GE Evolution(R) Series locomotives in
2008, of which 12 will replace the Dash 7 and Dash 8 locomotives purchased by
Hamersley Iron and Robe River, which are now more than 30 years old. The
remainder will cater for expanding production.

The new locomotives use a 12-cylinder, 4,500 horsepower engine that offers
improved fuel efficiency and more flexible maintenance requirements.

The upgrade of the locomotive fleet is in tandem with the addition of 1,200 new
ore cars in 2008, about 500 to cater for expansion and another 700 to replace
the ageing cars that have been operating for up to 40 years. As with the
locomotives, fleet maintenance and performance will be significantly improved
with the investment.

Managing Director of Robe River and Pilbara Infrastructure, Jack Sato said their
arrival added to the business's increasingly efficient and sustainable mining
operations.

'The new locomotives represent a significant investment for our rail operations
and a vital cog in our expansion of Pilbara operations,' he said.

'The first 10 will be used to help support the increase in annual port capacity
to 220 million tonnes of ore next year. The additional eco-friendly locomotives
will significantly advance our build-up to annual port capacity of 320 million
tonnes by 2012, and 420 million tonnes after that.'

General Manager Railways Division Richard Cohen said the locomotives will be
brought into operation quickly.

'An early-production opportunity has enabled us to take delivery of the next 15
locomotives ahead of schedule. By the end of 2008 our fleet will have expanded
from 86 to well over a hundred locomotives, with significant positive flow-on
effects arising from a more modern fleet,' he said.

'Along with innovations such as Automatic Train Operation and the Remote
Operations Centre, the new locomotives demonstrate how our rail system, which is
one of the largest privately owned heavy haulage networks in the world, is at
the cutting edge of technological advancement.'

Note to editors: Photographs of the locomotives arriving in Dampier are
available on request.

About Rio Tinto

Rio Tinto is a leading international mining group headquartered in the UK,
combining Rio Tinto plc, a London and NYSE listed company, and Rio Tinto
Limited, which is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange.

Rio Tinto's business is finding, mining, and processing mineral resources. Major
products are aluminium, copper, diamonds, energy (coal and uranium), gold,
industrial minerals (borax, titanium dioxide, salt, talc) and iron ore.
Activities span the world but are strongly represented in Australia and North
America with significant businesses in South America, Asia, Europe and southern
Africa.

Forward-Looking Statements

This announcement includes 'forward-looking statements' within the meaning of
Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements other than
statements of historical facts included in this announcement, including, without
limitation, those regarding Rio Tinto's financial position, business strategy,
plans and objectives of management for future operations (including development
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reserve and resource positions), are forward-looking statements. Such
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Tinto's present and future business strategies and the environment in which Rio
Tinto will operate in the future. Among the important factors that could cause
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from those in the forward-looking statements include, among others, levels of
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profitably, the impact of foreign currency exchange rates on market prices and
operating costs, operational problems, political uncertainty and economic
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activities by governmental authorities such as changes in taxation or regulation
and such other risk factors identified in Rio Tinto's most recent Annual Report
on Form 20-F filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission
(the 'SEC') or Form 6-Ks furnished to the SEC. Forward-looking statements
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the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers (the 'Takeover Code'), the UK Listing
Rules, the Disclosure and Transparency Rules of the Financial Services Authority
and the Listing Rules of the Australian Securities Exchange) to release publicly
any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement contained herein to
reflect any change in Rio Tinto's expectations with regard thereto or any change
in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.

Nothing in this announcement should be interpreted to mean that future earnings
per share of Rio Tinto plc or Rio Tinto Limited will necessarily match or exceed
its historical published earnings per share.

Subject to the requirements of the Takeover Code, none of Rio Tinto, any of its
officers or any person named in this announcement with their consent or any
person involved in the preparation of this announcement makes any representation
or warranty (either express or implied) or gives any assurance that the implied
values, anticipated results, performance or achievements expressed or implied in
forward-looking statements contained in this announcement will be achieved.

For further information, please contact:

Media Relations, London                     Media Relations, Australia
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Email: [e-mail]

Website: www.riotinto.com

High resolution photographs available at: www.newscast.co.uk


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