Freight Australia powers up: Media Release 04/04/2001

[Yuri J Sos<steam4me@dingoblue.net.au>]

Summary:  
G from 3000 to 3400 HP (net)
X from 1800-2000 to 3000 (cascading engines ex G)
A class power up by 34% (yay<g!>)


On FA's page at.....

http://203.43.193.81/FANews/release.cfm?ReleaseID=28

Freight Australia powers up 04/04/2001 

Regional rail specialist Freight Australia is embarking on a
multi-million dollar program to re-power its locomotive fleet in a
drive to equip the company for the increasing demands of new and
existing customers. 

Freight Australia recently announced it had grown revenues from $100
million to almost $185 million in the 20 months since it acquired the
former V/Line Freight, and this increase in business has placed a
strain on resources. Indeed, despite having a fleet of over 100 locos
the company has had to hire in units over recent months to meet
requirements. 

To ensure long-term demand can be met, Freight Australia has begun
work on re-engining its most powerful locos, the 3,300 horsepower
(3,000 hp net) G-class, with brand new 645F3B model GM power units
rated at 3,800 hp (3,500 hp net), to provide a 17% increase in
load-hauling capability. These engines, the most powerful available
for the G-class, are fully assembled and tested by GM in the United
States and shipped to Australia complete, for installation by Freight
Australia’s own skilled workforce at the Dynon workshops. 

In turn the 3,000 hp units from the G-class will be overhauled and
cascaded down into Freight Australia’s X-class locos, currently rated
at 1,800-2,000 hp, to provide a 50% increase in haulage capacity. At
the same time these locos will be fitted with state-of-the-art
computer management systems, be converted to enable driver-only
operation and are set up for short-end leading (cab-first operations).

In a further regeneration, seven A-class locos – originally built in
the 1950s and re-built in the 1980s – will be fitted with high-tech
traction control systems to boost pulling power by 34%. Thus, in
effect, the seven-unit A-class fleet will ‘grow’ by the equivalent of
two extra locos. 

While the comprehensive three-class program will ‘re-birth’ locos at
contemporary levels of technology and capability, Freight Australia
has also placed an order for a new generation locomotive, to be known
as the V-class, to be powered with the latest 4,000 hp 710 GM engine,
the most powerful two-stroke motor available. This loco is under
construction by EDI Rail at Somerton and Newcastle and is due for
delivery next year. 

“The capital improvement program for locomotives will give us the
ability to haul longer, heavier trains more efficiently and
cost-effectively, and greatly improve the flexibility of our fleet,”
said Freight Australia chief executive Marinus van Onselen. 

“If rail is to win the battle against a heavily-assisted road
transport industry, and get more freight off roads for the benefit of
the whole community in terms of lower costs, less pollution and
diminished danger, we have to invest in smarter, better ways of doing
business. 

“Soon we will have our G-class ideally suited to interstate and
long-haul operations, our X-class as powerful as the G’s used to be
and an excellent locomotive for Victorian services, and the A’s
available for a much wider range of general purpose uses. So we can
haul bigger trains, or the same trains with less locos, freeing up
units for other business,” he said. 

“Despite our disagreement with the Victorian government over unjust
pricing components in its rail access regime, I am optimistic Freight
Australia will continue to grow – and we need to be prepared. Once
again we are putting our money where our mouth is and investing in our
future. It’s just unfortunate the government’s action have the effect
of discouraging us from investing in the other half of the rail
success equation, the long-neglected freight track and infrastructure
– an investment the government itself has not committed itself to. 

“Freight Australia is committed to improving our business by
generating better service and greater flexibility for our customers,
and these re-powered locos will ensure we meet that commitment” Mr van
Onselen said.