Blockade Australia activists on Wednesday abseiled into position on coal machinery less than a day after NSW Police confirmed they would charge two women involved in protests earlier this week with fresh offences carrying up to 25 years' jail.

Police said they arrested two women, 28 and 22 at Newcastle Coal Infrastructure Group's coal loader after they were called there about 5.30am. Officers also stopped two men, 22 and 29, at Ash Island about 7.30am. Police said they found "climbing equipment and tools used to lock onto rail lines or coal loaders" when they searched the pair. Both were arrested, as well as a 26-year-old woman found nearby.

Police said all five were taken to Newcastle station and charges were expected.

Blockade Australia protests since November 5 have cost an estimated $60 million, with two dozen arrests made. It has done little to slow the number of protests, with activists claiming at least four stoppages in the past two days.

A Port Waratah Coal Services spokesman said protests caused "short disruptions" but safety was the main issue.

"They're placing themselves in serious danger, and there's some fairly heavy moving machinery here that is operated by trained people," the spokesman said.

A Blockade Australia statement identified one of Wednesday's abseilers as Hannah, quoting her as saying she was more frightened of environmental consequences than legal ones.

"It definitely scares me running through piles of coal from a police helicopter. But last year, I thought I was going to die by a fire caused by climate change, and that's just a glimpse at what's going to happen," she said.

"The tipping points are already being passed. So as scary as these guys [the police] might be, as scary as taking action which might ostracise you from certain communities might be, it's not as scary as the future we are heading to."

Retiring Hunter MP Joel Fitzgibbon said protesters failed to grasp that carbon emissions would actually grow if lower quality coal replaced Hunter exports.

"Their actions are completely disrespectful to the mine workers who win that coal on a daily basis, and all those who work in the supply chain," Mr Fitzgibbon told Canberra radio station 2CC.

The Australian Rail Track Corporation said the protests were dangerous and had a "significant impact". '

The corporation said it was was working with police and the port to "ensure that the integrity of the rail corridor can be maintained".

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