Re: QR restructure coming?

["Shane Polle" <shanep@amc.aust.com>]

There is an interesting article in Train magazine on USA hauled coal and refernces OS coal suppliers
Including Australia.

Also the NTK charge is affected by more than monopolys, terrain, distance (In the US the distance
 is larger), tonnage over the route, guage, govt influence. 
Ie in Qld, the coal mines do not pay much in royalites as the money was to
go directly to the rail system. I would be more interested to see the coal mines bottom line.
ie at what price per tonne, do they start making a profit.

Also, most CQ coal mines have a choice on which port to use, Gladstone, Hay point & Port Darlymple.
Unlike anywhere else in Australia.

Telstra still makes a big profit (% wise), as they carry most of the competiers traffic, they have become
a wholesaler more than a retailer, read their annual report.

Shane

>>7.2.1 Coal freight rates
>> Inquiry participants indicated that rail freight rates per ntk for
>> coal in Australia> are very high relative to those paid by mines overseas, particularly
>> in the United> States.
>> MIM stated: 
>> Rail and port charges for export coal in Queensland are
>> internationally uncompetitive. (sub. 18, p. 1)QR recieved critism for its monopoly in coal haulage as well 
>>as higer rate.But I'm curious to find out how much trucks charge for such haulage(or anyother operator)? I 
>>believe their charge is fair, previously mention QRcharge 8$ per head for carry pig, whereas trucks charnge
 30$ per head.
>> Any organization which operates in a zero competition environment like
>> QR does , cant help but make huge profits.
>> Telstra made huge profits too, before it had any competition.Because of this monopoly, QR can spend big $ on ordering new and fancyrolling stocks as well as upgrade mainline. If without this revenue QR would not have any of these improvements. Open access might cause something like what happens to FA/Austrac recently.

>> QR may not need to be privatised , but it sure needs some competition.
>> I suggest that you have a read of this report which is available from
>> the PCs web site , and then have a rethink about how wonderful QR is.

>What's the URL?

>CheersJames