Re: QR going national?

["Jeff Schmidt" <jschmidt@tpgi.com.au>]

> 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
>
Nothing odd about it at all. I assume you are referring to the iron ore
companies in the Pilbra region. The very nature of their operations force
them to be efficient. Here's why:
1. Specially built right of way. No sudden changes of road gradient. No
adverse steep descending grades. Their trains are right on the limit for
drawgear stress, air brake performance and tractive power even on very train
friendly road profiles. Occasionally they do have problems running trains
like that. They can get away with it while other companies can't because...
2. They are an isolated system. No passenger, no general freight. They can
afford to run an operation without having to worry about a 26,000 tonne
train going through the middle a passenger train. Not only is their
equipment on the limit but also their drivers in a fatigue management point
of view. There safe working systems are geared for a light traffic densities
and one type of train. It's called risk management. Trouble is the
definition of safety.
3. One company owns the whole operation. Less resources required to
co-ordinate 1 or 2 mines with the railroad and port than it is with a 30 or
more coal mines all funnelling their product into 2 or 3 ports. Add into the
equation other rail traffic, the myriad of different coal types, breakdowns,
etc.
4. Iron ore is appox. 3 times heavier than coal.
5. Train crews often have previous experience. And when their staff is
sourced from within their own operation the time required for training is
greatly reduced because it is a specialised rail operation. Big savings in
training.

That's only scratching the surface why they are efficient. It's all well and
good getting on ones soapbox and quoting haulage rates and figures. But the
reality is are you willing to risk the lives of people to save money.






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