Fortescue Metals Group has failed to stop a market minnow from seeking access to its railway, in a Supreme Court ruling handed down on Friday afternoon.

Iron ore aspirant Brockman Mining has spent the past 18 months arguing for access to Fortescue’s railway under third party access laws in Western Australia, but has been stymied by Fortescue’s belief that the claim was invalid. The dispute was heard before the Western Australian Supreme Court on Friday, and the ­ruling found against Fortescue’s argument.