North-south Tasmania rail line cut for a month
By Rob McKay
Pacific National Tasmania (PNT) parent Asciano expected Tasmania’s north-south rail freight line to be closed for about a month, a spokeswoman said on May 19th.
Container and paper-related freight has been suspended after a 60-metre section of track was torn up when two locomotives and five carriages derailed on May 15th.
“This is a result of the condition of the rail infrastructure in the Colebrook region, after several derailments in recent months," the spokeswoman said.
“PNT has suspended all rail services in that region.
“The current condition of the track makes this region unsafe to continue to run freight train operations.
“This action will result in the suspension of all container and paper train operations on the north-south line.
“Coal, cement and concentrate operations do not operate over the affected section and are not impacted.
“At this time, the estimated closure is four weeks and further investigations this week may change that estimate.
“PNT [is] in discussions with customers, employees and other key stakeholders to ensure all are informed of progress."
The Department of Infrastructure, Energy and Resources was assessing the work required and was in discussions with PNT to bring forward track repairs, its minister Graeme Sturges said.
The State and Federal Governments remained committed to the network and $210.5 million had been allocated to the rail rescue package and further track upgrades, Sturges said.
Source: Lloyd’s List Daily Commercial News – www.lloydslistdcn.com.au
Key rail projects get underway
Work along two critical sections of the interstate freight rail network has started with funding provided under the Federal Government’s Economic Stimulus Package.
The two projects getting underway are 433,000 new concrete sleepers for the line between Maroona and the South Australian border ($100 million), and 225,000 new concrete sleepers for the line between Albury and Seymour in Victoria ($45 million).
ARTC chief executive David Marchant said the upgrades mean better track efficiency, reduced transit times and temporary speed restrictions, as well as allowing more freight to be moved by rail.
“One 1500m train can replace around 100 trucks,” he said.
Funding for WA rail projects
Western Australia’s (WA) 2009-10 budget included $147.4 million for the Joondalup train line extension from Clarkson to Brighton. Construction of the $282.9 million project will start in 2010.
The budget also announced funding for the ongoing development of a 20-year public transport plan ($3 million) $18.15 million for upgrades to the Greenbushes Rail $5 million for further planning for the Northbridge Link rail underground $10 million to establish a public transport master plan for Ellenbrook, and $95 million for additional bus and train acquisitions.
$9.4 million from the Federal Government’s Nation Building Program will also be spent on installing boom gates and other safety measures at 62 high risk level crossings.
Third freight line for Whittingham
Work began for a third rail freight line at Whittingham on May 15th.
The NSW Minerals Council reportedly said the $135 million rail project at Singleton is further proof key stakeholders are committed to eradicating bottlenecks on the Hunter region’s coal chain.
The Mineral’s Council’s director of infrastructure, Jai McDermott reportedly said that it’s very important that as the port is expanded, rail is also expanded in a “timely fashion” so that blockages are not moved to another point in the coal chain.
NSW freight and logistics review gets underway
By Sineva Toevai
The Freight and Logistics Council of New South Wales (FALCONSW) has appointed PricewaterhouseCoopers to develop a strategy to improve efficiency in the State’s freight and logistics industry.
PwC was selected from about eight organisations to conduct the review, which is estimated to cost between $150,000 and $200,000, FALCONSW acting chief executive Hugh McMaster said.
The research, to be titled "Actions for NSW Freight and Logistics Industry Efficiencies and 21st Century Sustainability and Challenges", is due to be completed in about five months time, McMaster said.
"PwC’s freight and logistics project will collate information from a range of studies and programs conducted into the land, sea and air freight industries and advise on the best path forward for practical improvements," he said.
"The project will address expected future developments and identify non-infrastructure initiatives for the industry which will increase corridor capacity, reduce congestion and address sustainability and growth."
A "critically important" component of the project would be consultation with key industry shareholders in NSW, McMaster said.
Source: Lloyd’s List Daily Commercial News – www.lloydslistdcn.com.au
ALC to move south and refocus
By Sam Collyer
The Australian Logistics Council (ALC) will shift its headquarters to either Sydney or Canberra in coming months.
The peak representative body – which is currently based in Robina, in south-east Queensland – said it would also refocus on issues of regulation, infrastructure and lobbying.
The ALC had to move south to achieve this, chairman Ivan Backman has said.
Backman said arrangements would be made for issues which fell outside of the ALC’s new core area of focus.
The council’s members cover a broad range of the freight sector including ports, road, rail and airfreight groups, retail giants, government departments, universities, unions and the many transport and freight representative bodies.
Source: Lloyd’s List Daily Commercial News – www.lloydslistdcn.com.au
Schenker to develop strategic Yennora site for Sydney hub
By Sam Collyer
Global logistics giant DB Schenker is to streamline its Sydney operation by developing a new intermodal facility at the Yennora hub.
Schenker Australia said it would develop a 3.5 hectare facility at the site in Sydney’s south-west in a move which will clear more freight from Port Botany by rail.
Schenker Australia chief executive Ron Koehler said the move would ease congestion around the port and fitted with the group’s commitment to be more environmentally responsible.
The hub is about 30 kilometres north-west of the port and one of a series of intermodal facilities in Sydney with critical links to the main Melbourne-Sydney-Brisbane rail corridor.
Source: Lloyd’s List Daily Commercial News – www.lloydslistdcn.com.au
 
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