| Was it a good idea for Connex to take 50% ownership of WCR? |
| Yes |
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[ 7 ] |
| No |
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[ 9 ] |
| | Total Votes : 16 |
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mjja
Sir Nigel Gresley
Joined: Jan 13, 2003
Last Visited: Dec 4, 2008
Location: Mount Waverley, Melbourne
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Posted: Mon Feb 10, 2003 6:03 pm
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Does anyone know exactly why Connex took 50% of WCR?
Have they used their position to influence WCR in any way?
If they're in financial trouble, why don't they sell it off? (Or have they?)
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K163
Chief Commissioner
Joined: Jan 15, 2003
Last Visited: Nov 29, 2008
Location: Well you see that house over there? Well it's not that one.
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Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2003 7:44 pm
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it seens no-one is going to say anything, and this post doesn't count, as this has nothing to do woth the topic. 
Regards,
Craig Walton
What I say here is my thoughts, and doesn't represent the MRPS or Woolworths ltd... smeg imagine it did!
If you want to loose weight, don't eat anything that comes in a BUCKET!
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Nexas
The Ghost of George Stephenson
Joined: Jan 12, 2003
Last Visited: Nov 26, 2008
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Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2003 8:56 pm
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| 163 wrote: | | it seens no-one is going to say anything, and this post doesn't count, as this has nothing to do woth the topic. |
ok
Views expressed by me are strictly my own, not of my friends, employer, or anyone else, unless otherwise stated.
*Back at RP for a limited time only*
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A no 1
Deputy Commissioner
Joined: Jan 16, 2003
Last Visited: Nov 29, 2008
Location: I see a Seagoon
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Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2003 5:15 pm
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Why don't you ask Gary Mc Donald And Don Gibson? And cut all this speculation!
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mjja
Sir Nigel Gresley
Joined: Jan 13, 2003
Last Visited: Dec 4, 2008
Location: Mount Waverley, Melbourne
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Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2003 9:31 am
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I don't know how to contact them. I was hoping someone around here could tell me.
Happy Gunzelling and remember, "Go by rail!"
Michael Angelico
President, Smart Passengers Inc
(My opinions are my own unless specifically stated.)
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DavidB
Site Admin
Joined: Jan 11, 2003
Last Visited: Jan 25, 2007
Location: Canberra
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Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2003 9:51 am
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| mjja wrote: | | Does anyone know exactly why Connex took 50% of WCR? |
Originally to get a toe hold into the intercity market, against National Express. Now this puts WCR/Connex in a good position to bid for everything in 2005/6.
Cheers
David
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Beth
Station Staff
Joined: May 15, 2003
Last Visited: May 16, 2003
Location: Qantas Club Lounge, Sydney
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Posted: Thu May 15, 2003 7:54 pm
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| DavidB wrote: | | mjja wrote: | | Does anyone know exactly why Connex took 50% of WCR? |
Originally to get a toe hold into the intercity market, against National Express. Now this puts WCR/Connex in a good position to bid for everything in 2005/6.
Cheers
David |
Perhaps some airline may try and bid for the business?
Beth
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DavidB
Site Admin
Joined: Jan 11, 2003
Last Visited: Jan 25, 2007
Location: Canberra
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Posted: Fri May 16, 2003 11:59 am
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| qantas_club_sydney wrote: | | DavidB wrote: | | mjja wrote: | | Does anyone know exactly why Connex took 50% of WCR? |
Originally to get a toe hold into the intercity market, against National Express. Now this puts WCR/Connex in a good position to bid for everything in 2005/6.
Cheers
David |
Perhaps some airline may try and bid for the business? |
It's not widely known but not exactly a secret that Virgin has long been interested in getting into the rail business in Australia, even before they had an indirect link through Patrick Corporation. They were part of the Capital Rail bid for the VHST and also put in a bid for V/Line. There was some interest when it was (falsely) rumoured that Countrylink was to be privatised. There is also a good working relationship with QR, e.g. fly/rail holiday packages.
Cheers
David
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mjja
Sir Nigel Gresley
Joined: Jan 13, 2003
Last Visited: Dec 4, 2008
Location: Mount Waverley, Melbourne
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Posted: Fri May 16, 2003 1:36 pm
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It's only logical. They want a fast frequent service out of the main population centres (eg Sydney) but congestion is the main limiting factor. If they had an hourly Sydney-Canberra rail service they'd do well out of it.
Happy Gunzelling and remember, "Go by rail!"
Michael Angelico
President, Smart Passengers Inc
(My opinions are my own unless specifically stated.)
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DavidB
Site Admin
Joined: Jan 11, 2003
Last Visited: Jan 25, 2007
Location: Canberra
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Posted: Fri May 16, 2003 2:22 pm
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| mjja wrote: | | It's only logical. They want a fast frequent service out of the main population centres (eg Sydney) but congestion is the main limiting factor. If they had an hourly Sydney-Canberra rail service they'd do well out of it. |
Not sure if hourly could be justified on current journey times. Speedrail was to run hourly, but the journey time was to be 81 minutes.
I think Canberra could easily justify 5 services on weekdays. This was demonstrated in 1995 when the X2000 was running near full with passengers paying premium fares. The journey time was reduced to 3h25m, but next to none of the saving was due to the tilting.
If you could get the Sydney - Canberra times at least equal with road (around 3 hours) then you might stand a chance, but it would require major investment in infrastructure. Back in 1980 Comeng said the XPT could do it in under 3 hours if the then proposed track improvements were done.
Cheers
David
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zipitidoodah
Chief Commissioner
Joined: Jan 22, 2003
Last Visited: Apr 28, 2007
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Posted: Fri May 16, 2003 11:44 pm
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| DavidB wrote: | | qantas_club_sydney wrote: | | DavidB wrote: | | mjja wrote: | | Does anyone know exactly why Connex took 50% of WCR? |
Originally to get a toe hold into the intercity market, against National Express. Now this puts WCR/Connex in a good position to bid for everything in 2005/6.
Cheers
David |
Perhaps some airline may try and bid for the business? |
It's not widely known but not exactly a secret that Virgin has long been interested in getting into the rail business in Australia, even before they had an indirect link through Patrick Corporation. They were part of the Capital Rail bid for the VHST and also put in a bid for V/Line. There was some interest when it was (falsely) rumoured that Countrylink was to be privatised. There is also a good working relationship with QR, e.g. fly/rail holiday packages.
Cheers
David |
Now that's the last thing you want... Virgin planes flying over Virgin liveried trains... in Australia!
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mjja
Sir Nigel Gresley
Joined: Jan 13, 2003
Last Visited: Dec 4, 2008
Location: Mount Waverley, Melbourne
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Posted: Sat May 17, 2003 6:47 pm
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Virgin are flying Sydney-Canberra at something like that frequency. With small planes. They know they need to build up the business and they might not make a profit at first. Especially if airport congestion leads to higher landing fees.
There is nothing wrong with airlines running trains. The airlines have shamed the rail operators by giving consistently better service - they know how to serve customers and increase their business. That's what we need to get country passenger rail services on their feet again.
In Europe airlines run fast trains, not seeing them as competition.
Happy Gunzelling and remember, "Go by rail!"
Michael Angelico
President, Smart Passengers Inc
(My opinions are my own unless specifically stated.)
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ninthnotch
Dr Beeching
Joined: May 25, 2003
Last Visited: May 16, 2007
Location: Not here. Try another castle.
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Posted: Mon May 26, 2003 3:01 pm
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and with the passing of Gary McDonald, the interest in this hots up:
Who owns his share in Wallyrail now?
If Connex do, (and the fact that they have changed the contract for hauling the XTrapolii (if that is the correct plural for XTraplois)from Ballarat to Bayswater is any indication) then this means that by default, Connex have become a defacto operator of country trains in Victoria and in NZ! which gives them an even stronger bargaining position for VLP and M>Train in the future...
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DavidB
Site Admin
Joined: Jan 11, 2003
Last Visited: Jan 25, 2007
Location: Canberra
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Posted: Mon May 26, 2003 3:04 pm
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| ninthnotch wrote: | and with the passing of Gary McDonald, the interest in this hots up:
Who owns his share in Wallyrail now? |
Presumably his estate.
Cheers
David
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John of Melbourne
The Ghost of George Stephenson
Joined: Jan 30, 2003
Last Visited: Oct 16, 2007
Location: Melbourne suburbs
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Posted: Tue Sep 09, 2003 12:27 am
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| Quote: | Media Statement 5 September 2003
CONNEX SELLS ITS STAKE IN WEST COAST RAILWAY
Connex announced today that it had sold its 50% stake in West Coast Railway, the operator of train services between Melbourne and Warrnambool, to APT Rail Pty Ltd.
The decision to acquire the stake in 2001 was to enable Connex to become a regional rail operator at a time when such opportunities were becoming available. However, since that time and following the departure of National Express last year, the Victorian Government has decided to bring key regional rail operations and developments under its direct control.
‘The reality is that the opportunities we saw for Connex in regional rail in Victoria in 2001 are no longer there and this is likely to be the case for the foreseeable future,’ said Mr Gérard Golay, the Managing Director of Connex Group Australia.
‘Selling our stake also enables Connex to concentrate on its other activities, including the development of its proposal to become the operator of the entire Melbourne train network,’ said Mr Golay.
The principals of APT Rail Pty Ltd are Mr Dale Larkin and Mr Darren Olney-Fraser. APT Rail is a subsidiary of Australian Public Trustees, which invests in public assets and infrastructure.
Connex is one of the world’s leading private operators in the passenger transport sector, providing urban, suburban, inter-city and regional passenger services on buses, trains, trams and ferries.
Connex Group Australia operates in Melbourne (trains), Sydney (Monorail, Light Rail, buses) and Noumea (buses). |
Dale Larkin formerly worked for Connex' parent company and was involved with putting Connex' original bid to the government to obtain the Hillside franchise.
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