Connex 50% stake in WCR

mjja · Posted: Tue Sep 09, 2003 5:56 pm

Hm!

I wonder how well Connex did out of it - did they sell higher or lower than they bought?

I can understand them selling - there are shadows being cast over the future of private country rail pass operators. The government wants to keep VLP, at least until Fast Rail and other projects are finished, and then re-tender the whole lot as one package. Unless West Coast get the lot, they get nothing. Then what? Nothing but another tourist operator.

Happy Gunzelling and remember, "Go by rail!"

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

ninthnotch · Posted: Tue Sep 09, 2003 10:03 pm

That explains a few things I have seen.
What interests me though is this: Will Connex continue to use WCR for spark haulage, or will they look at other operators? Was this a contract that they cannot back out of (if they so chose)? With no Garry McDonald, will there be the impetus to continue as a heritage operator and attempt to make a profit out of it to keep paid volunteers? Or if not, will they have to go non-profit? Or will WCR just fade off into the sunset? Or try to do a Great Northern and try it's hand at bg contracting?

That's an attention-getter!