Re: National Rail Corp

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

In article <936800800.280803@diddley.primus.com.au> "Michael Walker" <walker@hotkey.net.au> writes:
>From: "Michael Walker" <walker@hotkey.net.au>
>Subject: Re: National Rail Corp
>Date: Thu, 9 Sep 1999 00:22:02 +1000

>>The sale is still on , delayed up until now by having to get the agreement
>of
>>all the shareholders, but I beleive there is still some dispute about who
>will
>>be allowed to bid , in that the NSW and Vic Govts dont want other Govt
>bidders.
>>I understand that Qrail were going to be a bidder.
>>Toll Rail is also interested.
>>The sale is supposed to be completed by the end of this year.


>According to the infamous Railway Digest in one of the last 2 editions, it
>commented that Freightcorp were interesting in buying out the shareholding
>or some such thing to take control of NRC. Does this mean the emphasis in
>your statement above should be that they don't want other GOVERNMENT BIDDERS
>ie no government is to buy them. Or should the emphasis be on they don't
>want OTHER gov't bidders ie NSW or VIC government railways (in VICs case
>Freight Victoria maybe) ie FV or FC can bid but not Qrail, we want it and
>they can't have a fair go at it?

>In either case, why shouldn't another government organisation buy it, I
>would have thought government money was as good as anyones!

>Or perhaps they are afraid QR will show them up for the incompetent  and
>disinterested transport operators they are...8^)


The initial area of dispute was that VIC was unhappy about a possible bid from 
Qrail, god knows why but I wouldnt at all be surprised if its the old States 
rights thing, ie we dont want another State running a National Rail Transport 
operation,no problem if its a private concern doing the same thing.
The same issue arose prior to the creation of the NRC,as the original intent 
was simply to make AN the National Rail carrier (would have made a lot of 
sense),but VIC and NSW simply wouldnt agree.
Were other Govts barred from bidding for the VLF - FV sale?


MD