Re: Freight is booming

[mauried@commslab.gov.au (Maurie Daly)]

Prior to NR buying their 120 new locos , the interstate freight task was 
handled by NR using a mixture of AN locos and a large number of leased locos 
from the various states.
The largest component of leased locos were in the form of SRA locos namely 
82s,81s 80s and 422s , there were also leased locos from the PTC in the form 
of Gs ,Cs and Xs.
Since NR have now acquired their full set of new locos , just about all the 
leased locos have been returned to their original owners.
In the case of the SRA this amount to 61 82/ 81 class and the 20 422s as well 
as 15 80s .
If the SRA have a shortage today of locos , how were they able just 4 years 
ago to lease to NR nearly 90 locos without any major disruption,or conversly 
what massive increase in Freightcorps traffic now needs an additional 90 locos.
It doesnt add up.

Looking at the problem another way,prior to the creation of NR the total 
interstate freight task was handled by each of the individual states plus AN 
with the loco fleet they had at the time .
We have now added 120 4000HP locos to the total loco fleet,but the interstate 
freight task has remained essentially the same , if anything its dropped a bit 
due to the economic meltdown in Asia.
How can there now be a shortage ?
Very shortly Westrail will have added another 20 plus 4000HP stg guage locos 
to the overall fleet as well , and Westrail have made no secret of the fact 
that they too want to get into the interstate freight business.

Any rail operator can create the illusion of a loco shortage , buy simply poor 
rostering practices, using more locos than are necessary or using diesels 
where they could and previously did use electrics.
A loco shortage is exactly what is means , ie there arnt enuf locos to handle 
the required freight task which results in trains being cancelled as there are 
no locos available to pull them .
This rarely is ever happens.
If SRA  have a genuine loco shortage, then they would be 
1/ replacing at full speed the 3 82s wrecked at Beresfield.
2/ Replacing all the 80s now out of service with new locos
3 /Replacing all the electrics now out of service with new electrics

Funny that none of this is happening

cheers
MD