Re: QR going national?

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

In article <937615214.933422@diddley.primus.com.au> "Michael Walker" <walker@hotkey.net.au> writes:
>From: "Michael Walker" <walker@hotkey.net.au>
>Subject: Re: QR going national?
>Date: Sat, 18 Sep 1999 10:35:37 +1000

>>Lets say a certain Class One Railroad in the States holds the distinction
>of
>>"Worlds Best Practise". What obligations does that company have to the
>>community and it's employees? I know it's a broad question but have a very
>>close look at US rail companies and their work practises, the safe working
>>systems employed, the infrastructure required to support a safe and
>>efficient operation, the training and accreditation of their work force,
>>etc. It would be safe to say the general consensus is that North American
>>companies are very efficient when measured by the bottom line. But they do
>>so at a price. Those large spectacular derailments you see on television
>are
>>the result of loopholes in their safety systems. I'm not saying similar
>>accidents cannot happen in this country but the fact is the possibility of
>>them occurring is reduced. To put it simply Australian rail companies
>cannot
>>afford the implications of a major accident.

>The only reason that is the way at the moment is because most of the
>railways are government owned. Once they are privatised, the political
>furore over a major railway accident will be significantly reduced. Indeed a
>cynic would say a government would do well if a private company had a major
>accident and the government was able to say it stepped in quickly, gave the
>company a good telling off and major fine, and told them to do what needed
>to be done to fix it up. The government looks good because it is telling a
>bad company to be good and gains popularity for showing strong leadership.
>At present the government looks bad if there is a major accident because it
>is their railway and they are in the position of bad company.


Its a bit odd then that the railways in this country with the 
lowest accident rate,the best track , the most powerful locomotives , the 
longest and heaviest trains in the world  and also the lowest effective 
freight rates,(1 c/ntk) and also the highest energy efficiency (10 nt km 
/M) are all private railways.
Also said railways operate according to the best US practice, indeed 
one could say that they are US railways operating in Australia.

Id say there is something a bit wrong with the Govt Railways.

MD