QR National boosts capacity on east-west intermodal services

Chief executive Lance Hockridge said the addition of new customers and the introduction of new rolling stock had encouraged the business to add more wagons to this service – which leaves Melbourne each Thursday 6pm, and arrives in Perth on Sunday at 6am – as well as introduce double-stacking of containers.

QR National is now offering four east-west services each week; twice the level of 12 months ago.

“By bolstering the Thursday service, we are responding ot customer’s needs for increasing capacity at the end of the week with freight available in Perth for the start for the following week,” group general manager intermodal Hans Anneveldt said.

“Our improved market offering with increased capacity and more personalised and flexible services is attracting new customers and increasing our market share.

“It also further leverages us to growth in the market evidenced by forecasts from IBISWorld that non-bulk container freight will increase by almost 250% by 2050.”

Annevendt said a significant investment by QR National in the past year had increased its intermodal fleet by 15 locomotives, including the purchase of six new locomotives featuring advanced fuel-efficient technology.

“The multi-million dollar investment in new locomotives and wagons has been undertaken to increase our capacity and service reliability,” he said.

“This, combined with the opening of our efficient new depot at Forrestfield last year, signals our intention to play a strong role in the interstate intermodal freight market.”