[VIC] Freight Australia speeds grain links

["Rod [comtrain]" <freight_man@hotmail.com>]

Recieved this today, hope those that did not..enjoy!
Rod [comtrain]
Media Release
23 April 2001
Regional rail specialist Freight Australia is shortening the grain logistics
chain and accelerating valuable export deliveries to port by upgrading a key
Central Victorian rail link.
Next month the company will complete a one-million-dollar upgrade of the
40-kilometre line between Inglewood and Eaglehawk (outside Bendigo) enabling
longer and heavier grain trains to be operated with more powerful
locomotives.
Under government control the line had seen minimal maintenance since the
1980s, and last decade was officially downgraded by VicTrack.  When Freight
Australia purchased V/Line Freight in May 1999 the restoration of the line
was identified as a key project in the company's wide-ranging program of
operating improvements and scheduled for activation this year.
The restoration work involved replacement of sleepers, improvement of
drainage and rehabilitation of bridges.  As a result Freight Australia will
be able to deploy its most powerful locomotives, the G-class, and its VHLY
grain wagons, currently undergoing an upgrading program to increase capacity
by one third.
Both Inglewood and Eaglehawk are essentially rail junctions, but currently
heavy trains must undertake a considerable diversion from Inglewood through
Ballarat and Geelong before reaching Melbourne.
By restoring the link between the two junctions, Freight Australia will be
able to operate trains on the Robinvale and Kulwin lines (originating in
Victoria's northern and north-western grain-growing areas), directly through
Bendigo to the Australian Bulk Alliance export terminal at Melbourne's
Appleton Dock, and improve running time to Geelong's Graincorp terminal.
Completion of the work will ensure Freight Australia has maximum flexibility
in allocation of the most efficient combinations of locomotives and rolling
stock, and speed up turnaround of trains/equipment, both vital
considerations in the current period of record grain harvests.
Freight Australia chief executive Marinus van Onselen notes the
grains industry is a key driver of farm sector prosperity and Freight
Australia's most important customer.  Collectively the sector accounts for
over one third of Freight Australia's revenue.
"A succession of bumper seasons in South Eastern Australia has
accelerated our drive to handle grain volumes more efficiently and
cost-effectively," Mr van Onselen said.  "In 1999 the total task was some
2.5 million tonnes, but that grew to 4 million for the 2000 season and is
predicted to reach 5 million next year.
"Notwithstanding our dispute with the Victorian Government over its
rail access regime pricing policies - which, if implemented, will grant our
competitors the right to operate over our network at lower cost than we can,
thereby affecting our capacity to make further similar improvements in
future -  Freight Australia is committed to improving our own business by
generating better service and greater flexibility for our customers and this
latest million dollar project adds to the $52 million of private capital we
have already injected into this long neglected ex government railway," Mr
van Onselen said.