Clock running down on Tassie rail freight

<p>Tasmania’s intermodal rail freight services will cease next Monday (December 12) failing a last-minute government commitment on track and rail infrastructure investment.</p> <p>The federal and Tasmanian governments last week received the two independent reports on the future of the Tasmanian rail freight services but have yet to make their contents public or respond to operator Pacific National’s request for investment.</p> <p>Pacific National has set December 12 as the deadline and the company has a board meeting the following day &#8211 at which it hopes to be able to discuss any government decision on the Tasmanian issue.</p> <p>A spokeswoman for federal transport minister Warren Truss told <em>Lloyd’s List DCN </em> that Mr Truss hoped to make "an informed decision" this month but it was not yet known if that would happen in time for the Pacific National board meeting.</p> <p>A spokesman for Tasmanian infrastructure minister Bryan Green said the reports were still being assessed. </p> <p>Although the independent assessments will not be released for reasons of "commercial in confidence", the governments are preparing a summary report that will be available later on. </p> <br />