Whats the latest news on Tasmanian Railways?

kettle8632 · Posted: Sat May 17, 2008 1:05 am

Hi there everyone.

Can someone please tell what the future holds for Tasmanian Railways, as I'm migrating to Tasmania in December and would like to work on the infrastructure, as I do here in the UK (track welder).

Any information would be a great help

Kind Regards

Steve

12CSVT · Posted: Sun May 18, 2008 4:57 pm

Its a bit complicated and there has been a fair bit detailed on other threads, but the situation is not that dis-similiar to the U.K. There is a Government Authority, the R.M.U. (Rail Management Unit) which has taken ownership of the lines, though bizarrely has left the now principle lessee P.N.T. (Pacific National Tas.) in charge of managing the operational routes. The R.M.U. has put track maintenance out to tender which has been taken up by some national infrastructure companies like Transfield with smaller local companies like Van Ek Engineering being sub-contracted for localised works.

I'm unsure who you would approach about getting track maintenance work. The risk is in getting employed by one of the major contractors could also see you bouncing around the country on jobs as these contractors are nationally based with itinerant workforces. The localised contractors though are fairly small operations and may have limited job opportunities.

As for the future, that is anybodys guess, with P.N. not wanting to be here, other operators not wanting to come here unless P.N. leaves and the Government?? Goodness knows what they want!!

Cheers,
SZ

kettle8632 · Posted: Wed May 28, 2008 3:42 am

Hi SZ

Thanks for a very in depth reply. Very useful thanks. I'll just have to wait and see. There is always the mines for work

Cheers

steve

MelbourneCity · Posted: Wed May 28, 2008 1:00 pm

Tassie doesnt really have that many mining opportunities either - Western Australia, Queensland are the big two, with the Northern Territory (Uranium) and South Australia now climbing up there too.

There probably is mining in Tassie, but it would be rather small scale, in comparison... I think there's a bit of coal and gold mining.

Logging is pretty big there...

MELBOURNE CITY

http://melbournecity2004.fotopic.net/

tasrail · Posted: Wed May 28, 2008 4:31 pm

And yet another mainlander makes sweeping statement without having a clue what they are talking about

I'd list all the mines and operations as that information is very easy to locate, but the odds are you don't actually care so I don't see why I should waste my time with actual factual information, as it doesn't seem to worry people like you

Z1NorthernProgress2110 · Posted: Wed May 28, 2008 5:30 pm

I agree Stuart. There is a lot of action, now and future, down the West Coast.

Cheers Damien Smith
http://z1-2110gallery.fotopic.net
Updated 28th September, includes various Y2151 shunting and Upper Burnie lookout pics

DRR_Fireman · Posted: Wed May 28, 2008 10:16 pm

Steve, just wondering, are you a qualified boilermaker/welder, or just qualified in track welding? If you are a qualified boilermaker, it shouldnt be hard for you to find work.

Don River Railway, Tasmania -U/V class driver, Trainee Fireman, Trainee Railcar driver and Shunter extraordinaire!

kettle8632 · Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2008 10:22 am