A Pacific National train travelled on the Yaapeet line on Tuesday to pick up cereal from GrainCorp's silo in Yaapeet to transport to port.

GrainCorp announced last month it would halt freight on the Dimboola to Yaapeet rail line and other lines north of Warracknabeal after signing a five- year deal with Pacific National.

Yaapeet Primary School principal Sheryl Herben said 11 of the school's 12 students, witnessed the train's presence in Yaapeet at the town silo.

"We thought it might be the last one," Mrs Herben said.

"The significance may come later, when it doesn't happen any more."

Yaapeet Leading Senior Constable Tony Clark said GrainCorp loaded locomotives with 18 wagons of cereal.

"The crew were unsure whether it was going to be the last on the line or not," Constable Clark said.

"It was quite a surprise to see it."

Constable Clark said he believed the last train to travel on the Dimboola to Yaapeet line was a train to Rainbow in June last year.

GrainCorp southern division manager Jack Tansley confirmed a Pacific National train used the Yaapeet rail line on Tuesday to load grain from the Graincorp Yaapeet silo.

Mr Tansley said further trains could use the line.

"If there is other demand for grain from Yaapeet to go to port the train might go up there again," Mr Tansley said.

He could not confirm when GrainCorp had last used the train line.

Mr Tansley said GrainCorp's contract with Pacific National did not include the Yaapeet rail line.

"Pacific National has stipulated that's one of the lines that won't be used," he said.

"Our preference is for grain rail access to as many sites as possible."

Hindmarsh Shire Councillor Mick Gawith lives in Rainbow. He was at home when the train passed through Rainbow.

"I heard this rumble and thought, `this sounds like a train'. I looked out the window and yelled out to my wife."

Hindmarsh Shire Council has vowed to fight for rail freight operations on northern Wimmera and southern Mallee lines.

Cr Gawith said it was important trains continued to use the line to reduce the transport industry's carbon foot print and increase road safety.