Tasports eye the rail network

bevans · Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2008 8:27 am

The publicly owned operator of Tasmania's ports is interested in running the state's rail freight network.

The State Government is searching for a new operator after Pacific National announced after months of uncertainty it would no longer run trains in Tasmania.

The Brighton Mayor, Tony Foster, is pleased Pacific National is going.

"They've been a very poor corporate citizen," Councillor Foster said.

And with a multi-million-dollar upgrade of the rail network planned, he's says there are opportunities for a new operator.

"Tasports for example would be a great operator for rail for the future and then we would have certainty," Councillor Foster said.

Tasports, the Government-owed operator of the state's ports, agrees and will next week meet with the Government to discuss what role it can play.

Tasport's Charles Scarafiotti says the company has the expertise and wants to be involved.

He says Tasports already handles 99 per cent of sea freight in Tasmania and has rail and road interfaces at its ports.

It's also likely to operate the new Brighton transport hub.

ABC News

RP2 - Project Director

"Victoria, the home of world class project blowouts and overruns" Mr. Bachelor, hang your head in Shame!

bevans · Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2008 8:35 am

State rail network 'would be good buy' - Well-operated service to be well utilised

THE Tasmanian rail network would be a good buy and if it was operated correctly it would be well utilised in the future, transport policy consultant John Livermore said yesterday.

Infrastructure Department figures show rail container flows were 851,982 tonnes a year in 2006 and were forecast to rise to just under 1.3 million in 2020.

Mr Livermore said increased usage, which even Pacific National confirms on its Web site, would make the operation worthwhile for the next operator.

The opinion came as Chas Kelly confirmed to The Examiner his transport company had closely watched the rail saga play out and would keenly await the release of Pacific National's sale documents.

Mr Kelly said his company's trucking business could operate "side by side" with rail.

"We are certainly capable of running it, it's just a matter of whether it's worthwhile," Mr Kelly said.

"It's certainly worth considering this opportunity now that it has arisen."

Meanwhile, Tasports marketing executive manager Charles Scarafiotti said the company had an obvious interest in the issue, given it was responsible for 99 per cent of the State's freight task.

Tasports was already a strategic partner in the Brighton intermodel hub for rail and road and looked forward to discussing options with the State Government.

Cement Australia, paper mill Norske Skog, mining company Zinifex and log haulage are Pacific National's major customers but it is understood that a number of other major operators want to use rail.

Examiner

RP2 - Project Director

"Victoria, the home of world class project blowouts and overruns" Mr. Bachelor, hang your head in Shame!

rjaygee · Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2008 12:04 pm

Lets be realistic, if Pacnat cannot run the network how can other players do so profitably. The Ports Authority should not be allowed to throw public money at a complete basket case railway.

Cheers

Rod Gayford

bevans · Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2008 12:18 pm

Z1NorthernProgress2110 · Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2008 12:46 pm

PacNat are just bullies, that want money for everything. Then complain its not viable.

Just 10 years ago, or there abouts, profit was made by ATN, train lengths was great(50+ wagons) really, everything was was good.

But, since Toll has the upper hand with container handling , its not easy in Tasmania. There was customers around when PN took over, then decided to use trucks, due to PNs bullying.

Now that PN are selling up in Tasmania, and someone that is willing to take over, the customers will come back.

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

bevans · Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2008 12:53 pm

DQ2004 · Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2008 3:22 pm

In hindsight it never really looked as if PN wanted to run the railways.

Let's face it, a trucking company will often regard the railways as it's natural enemy (certainly a large company is more likely to).
So what to they do? They buy all the railways they can, keep the profitable bulk haulage routes that trucks can never compete with, and dismantle the rest. The same thing is happening in Victoria too.
How many Toll trucks are there on the highway nowadays?
Last time I was on the highway (within the last 2 months) I noticed quite a few.

I can't imagine QRN or any of the other companies on the mainland being interested in this. Apparently Freightliner from the UK is about to enter the Aussie market, but I very much doubt that they'd be interested either.
Only if they get subsidies will private companies want to come in, as they're already indicating.

Personally I would much rather my taxpayers dollars going to TasPorts as a government business enterprise and rename it TasRail & Ports or whatever you want to call it.
David Bartlett should give Kevin a ring, say; "Look buddy, got a bit of a tricky one here, give us a rescue package and we'll both look like heroes"
Win win for all concerned, except for the deserved villain PNT, who should get $2 for the state to take the lot back.

http://www.railpage.com.au/f-p1097560.htm#1097560 -THE RACE updated 11-8-08
http://toby629.fotopic.net/ -photos of the new Austrains C35 class model added 4-8-08

austrain · Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2008 5:37 pm

Personally I think Tasports or similar would be good to manage the network, train control, freight yards, track works etc. (RMU coming under there control) Ensuring fair access to anyone who wishes to run, be it freight or pass societys. I still think a dedicated rail operator is needed, one who has experience and the dollars to invest in rollingstock and chase customers. Truck operators involved with rail does not work, as they always look after there truck business first.

Some say this hasnt worked on the mainland, but tassie is smaller and with the right companys tassie could be a leader accross australia. Tassie has the chance to come out in front with rail management in australia if the state government so desires.

someone is going to have to spend some dollars on rollingstock though

ebr1 · Posted: Sun Jun 15, 2008 10:10 pm

you should talk to the users of tas ports ,there opinion is that there not much better than pacnat.
now that theres no competition between port the costs have tripled(there words) and just look at there top heavy managment the usual govt traits ,sounds like the normal govt run business.
talk to any of coal face workers ,not a happy bunch.

DQ2004 · Posted: Thu Jun 19, 2008 7:46 pm

I have heard the same thing said about QR National.
Talking to a QR worker on the Gold Coast line a few years ago he indicated that the workforce in general was very unhappy and treated like smeg by management.
Now that is only one story and one person, so I can't say for sure how accurate it was. Obviously there's whingers in every workplace, we all know that I'm sure, so it's hard to put these stories in their place.
I'm sure many will agree that John Howard's attitute to workplace relations has encouraged bad employers across the board, and in particular with railways that are always fighting to make a buck everywhere, workers are put last again, so I personally suspect the story was a good litmus test for the overall feeling in QR.

To be quite honest I can't remember hearing any good stories about any rail operator's management skills being well regarded by the workers, although I'm hopeful someone may correct this.

Be that as it may I think we can agree on one thing;
We want the railways to grow again, not continue to shrink, and for that we need decent investment including NEW locomotives and rollingstock, not rebuilds and chop-togethers, on top of the permanent way upgrades already agreed to by state and federal government.

It seems to me there's no 'good' operator that we'd really like to have, other than perhaps get Ed Burkhardt back (someone give Montreal, Maine & Atlantic a call?), and I doubt any of them are going to come along with even close to $38 mil to spend like PN claimed it was going to Rolling Eyes

.
In which case the State government might as well take it back and use the money they would have used as an incentive on their own business, rather than throwing it at someone and hoping they'll do the right thing.

Many regards,
Toby

http://www.railpage.com.au/f-p1097560.htm#1097560 -THE RACE updated 11-8-08
http://toby629.fotopic.net/ -photos of the new Austrains C35 class model added 4-8-08

RTT_Rules · Posted: Fri Jun 20, 2008 5:09 am

Z1NorthernProgress2110 · Posted: Fri Jun 20, 2008 2:13 pm

Well, we have to play the waiting game on who gets PN Tasmanian operations. There is meant to be an announcement in September.

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

mjja · Posted: Fri Jun 20, 2008 8:07 pm

Having the port authority run the railway will probably be a good thing. The port are interested in the movement of containers and bulk freight in the most efficient manner possible. Their running of the railways will be an extension of that principle - covering the entire state.

It won't help with intrastate freight, but there probably isn't much of that in Tasmania that can really be captured to rail, the distances just aren't big enough.

Happy Gunzelling and remember, "Go by rail!"

Michael Angelico
President, Smart Passengers Inc
(My opinions are my own unless specifically stated.)

derwentparkjunc · Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2008 7:26 pm

Any current informed speculation on likely new operators?

Cheers
DPJ

Z1NorthernProgress2110 · Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2008 8:16 pm

Well, did hear that there was 8 "potential" buyers for PN when it was announced that PN was pulling out. Then the other night on WIN news, there was 5 potential buyers.

IMO, i think there is none really interested in Tasmanian rail, a pity really.

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