Well the State Government has announced it is selling FreightCorp For 1 billion Aussie dollars (approx the cost of an American sports car hehehehe). What do you guys think is this a good or bad move for the rail industry in Australia. I believe it will improve the state of rail as a private investor is more likely to inject capital expenditure and maybe upgrade the fleet of locomotives and rollingstock. ------------------ Paul Cassar-# Member number 50 ICQ 61198217 http://users.bigpond.net.au/railroad2000
I'm not sure it is a good or bad thing. FreightCorps staff have done well to recreate a freight hauling business from the mess that was given to them when the railways broke up into 'components'. I assume this was a 'Government perogative' done in order to get the business to a point where it could be sold, and is in line with the current trend of private operators (FC does have contracts in other state to run services) operating on Rail Access' corridors. The capital expenditure for infrastructure is supplied through RAC. The main expenditure, outside of access charges, I see for the new freight hauler is on locos and rolling stock. Whether we will see an upgrade of locomotives in the near future remains to be seen. The reactivation of FreightCorps' old stored ALCo's over the last couple of years should see them in service a little longer but with rising fuel prices, I reckon we will see a move to newer, more fuel efficient locos. But will they be new or rebuilt? And when? If it is sold, look for a new scheme running around. It's already more colourful than ever on Aussie rails! Gary.
OK guys - could you tell us what is FreightCorps? I assume they haul freight! ------------------ Alan The perfect combination - BNSF and N Scale! www.ac-models.com Andersley Western Railroad Alan's American Gallery
FreightCorp was initially part of the government railways in New South Wales. When the railways was broken up into 4 entities RAC- Rail Access Corporation, owner of the infrastructure (track signals and Electrical), State Rail (Passenger Operator), Rail Services Australia (Infrastructure maintainer) and Freightcorp( freight operator) freightCorp operates all types of freight including intermodal, coal, wheat and general haulage. you can visit there site at http://www.freightcorp.com.au/ Regards ------------------ Paul Cassar-# Member number 50 ICQ 61198217 http://users.bigpond.net.au/railroad2000
Thanks Paul. Most railways around the world are going the way of seperating the various sections. In the UK it has been successful, I think, mainly due to the fact that freight was at a very low ebb under the last years of British Rail, so the only way to go was up EWS seem to be revitalising our freight scene. The more freight on the rails, the better ------------------ Alan The perfect combination - BNSF and N Scale! www.ac-models.com Andersley Western Railroad Alan's American Gallery
The same has happened here, Alan. Several 'shortline' style operators have commenced working the system, including one of our rail historical outfits - The Lachlan Valley Railway. Rather than them owning the rails, they lease access time and travel anywhere on the system to provide their services. The biggest bug-bear for them is the gauge changes throughout Australia. Rural Victoria and parts of South Australia is still broad-gauge 5'3", and Queensland, West Australia, and parts of South Australia use 3'6". Tasmania is seperate so doesn't come into the equation as they have one operator only - a subsidiary of Wisconsin Central! Gary.
Same here, Gary. Most of our freights are run by English, Welsh & Scottish Railway (EWS), which is also a subsidiary of Wisconsin Central! All sorts of other operators also buy track occupancy. ------------------ Alan The perfect combination - BNSF and N Scale! www.ac-models.com Andersley Western Railroad Alan's American Gallery
its good your govt has retained ownership of the track and access to it . here in nz the complete railway system was sold to w.c for $ 400 million , now the auckland regional council is having to buy back the local tracks to ensure competition in tendering for the running suburban trains .one of the tenderers will be tranzrail the w.c subsidary that owned the track . i think all proceeds from selling frieghtcorp should be spent by the govt on upgraging the track .
Solar first I'd like to welcome you to Trainboard, nice to have another person from the best part of the world lol. It will be interesting to see who buys Freightcorp, my guess is WC will be one of the contenders. I agree with you that ownership of the infrastructure should stay with the government and let operators own the business. Regards Paul ------------------ Paul Cassar-# Member number 50 SPAD Investigator #1 ICQ 61198217 http://users.bigpond.net.au/railroad2000
Here is an interesting article in regards to this topic http://www.afr.com.au/news/20001031/A17163-2000Oct30.html ------------------ Regards Paul Cassar-# Member number 50 SPAD Investigator #1 ICQ 61198217 http://users.bigpond.net.au/railroad2000
