Re: RIP Austrack?? -& What of other Small Private Operators??

["Grahame Ferguson" <grahamef@users.mcmedia.com.au>]

With the sale of the 'Big' operators, that is, AN, V/Line,  NRC & Westrail,
and the speculated sale of FreightCorp, what will become of the small
private operator?

This comes to mind when new owners pledge that they will work leaner and
meaner.  Such pledges usually mean with less staff,  less locomotives, and
at the same time outmarketing any competition.

If what the rumour mill is true about Freight Victoria wanting to operate
with 10 fewer locomotives, then any competing 'Hook & Pull' operator is at
risk.  Freight Victoria could themselves under cut any competition, to offer
themselves as a 'Hook & Pull' provider.

 Freight Victoria also wants to get out of Interstate freight, which it has
started to do with the cessation of Austrac trains to Sydney, although SCT
trains are still running to Adelaide with G classes.  Maybe they are pulling
the plug on unprofitable routes.

Companies that are at risk because of the impending spread of Privatisation
are: Austrac, Great Northern Railway, and Northern Rivers Railway.  Which is
a shame, as these companies have gone out on a limb to keep rail freight
viable and competetive.

Unless they have contracts already on the Books which go well into the
future, they may be left for dead by the new 'Big' operator who will want to
compete in all areas be it short haul, hook & pull, bulk, and intermodal.
Alternately, they may survive if they sub-contract to the larger companies.

However, 'Outsource' companies that are providing a proven service like
maintenance for instance, will more than likely to survive and flourish.

Even competition amongst the larger operators has started.  This happened
with the Leigh Creek Coal in SA,  Coal haulage for Macquarie Power in the
NSW Hunter Valley, and stones from Shellharbour in NSW.

In the wings waiting to pounce is ATN, who if they do not buy a Railway,
will compete on Open Access.  They have 7x L classes in storage in WA,
waiting for the right opening.