BlueScope to outsource Port Kembla rail ops to Pacific National

<p>BlueScope Steel would outsource the maintenance and operation of its Port Kembla Steelworks rail task to Pacific National, it confirmed today (Monday, May 7).</p> <p>Pacific National will be responsible for maintaining a fleet of locomotives and wagons used to move raw materials, molten metal, intermediate products and finished steel within the steelworks under a long-term contract.</p> <p>Pacific National delivers coal and limestone to the Port Kembla Steel works for use in steel manufacturing, and transports steel products from the site to destinations across Australia. </p> <p>BlueScope Steel has made 165 rail and locomotive employees redundant.</p> <p>A spokeswoman said Pacific National would employ around 100 train drivers and shunters under the new contract.</p> <p>Ex-BlueScope Steel employees were being encouraged to re-apply with Pacific National, she said.</p> <p>Pacific National chief executive Don Telford said the deal represented a natural fit for the rail services the company already provided in the Illawarra Region. </p> <p>&#8220Managing the rail operations within the steelworks site is a logical extension of Pacific National’s existing operations and will deliver transport supply chain efficiencies in the Port Kembla precinct,&#8221 he said.</p> <p>Pacific National expects to assume responsibility for rail operations services from August 2007.</p> <br />