V-Line Freight To Run Interstate Intermodal Freight Service

[pcc@ocean.com.au (Leslie Brown)]

Found on the Rail2000 site that might interest you all:
(http://www.users.on.net/polbathic/rail2000/#News Updates)

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V/Line Freight spreads its wings

19 December 1997

V/Line Freight (VLF) is likely to commence operating a regular
intermodal service between Melbourne and Adelaide in the New Year. In
a move that has caught most industry observers by surprise, an empty
trial service (a G class loco and 9 container flats) left Melbourne on
Thursday Dec 18 and was to return empty ex Adelaide on Saturday Dec
20. A full thrice weekly service is expected to commence from
mid-January. VLF brings to six the number of operators working
throughout on this corridor, joining SCT, TNT, NR, GSR and Patrick’s.
This service is significant in that VLF crews will be used throughout,
with a crew change at Dimboola. Australia Southern Railroad crews are
initially accompanying the VLF crews between Dimboola and Port
Adelaide for route learning purposes. 

While the main reason behind the new service is no doubt to meet
customer demand, with the impending sale of V/Line Freight the fact
that VLF has become an interstate operator in its own right will not
be lost upon the Victorian Government as it seeks to drum up interest
in the sale. 

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I recommend the Rail2000 site to you all as a means of keeping track
(!) on what's going on around the Australian Railway Network. They
deserve our full support.

Les Brown