AusRAIL, Market Sectors

News in Brief ? 15-21 September 2010

<span class="" id="parent-fieldname-description"> </span> <p><strong>QR National pre-registration announced</strong><br />The Queensland Government last Sunday announced pre-registration for local investors looking to buy into QR National. Details of the pre-registration can be accessed at <a href="http://qrnshareoffer.com.au" target="_blank">qrnshareoffer.com.au</a></p><p>The initial public offering is expected to raise between $3bn and $4bn, with the government to retain a 25-40% stake in the company, with no other individual shareholder able to hold more than 15% of the company, it was reported.</p><p><strong>ACCC consults on revised Hunter Valley rail access</strong><br />The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has begun public consultation on a revised Hunter Valley rail network access undertaking submitted by the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC).</p><p>ARTC originally submitted a proposal to the ACCC in relation to the Hunter Valley network in April 2009, but withdrew that application in April 2010. The ACCC received ARTC’s revised application on 7 September 2010.</p><p>The deadline for submissions on the current consultation is 11 October 2010. A Consultation Paper and other related information are available on the ACCC’s website:<a href="http://www.accc.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/945831" target="_blank"> www.accc.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/945831</a><br /><br /><strong>Survey work to start on $1.15 billion Moreton Bay Rail Lin</strong>k <br />Survey work on the $1.15bn Moreton Bay Rail link will begin late next month.<br />The project team for the rail link is now mobilised and starting late October there will be workers on the ground carrying out preliminary survey work.</p><p>“After decades of promises and planning, the Bligh government has worked with the Gillard government and the Moreton Bay Regional Council to make the Moreton Bay rail link reality,” transport minster Rachel Nolan said.</p><p>Moreton Bay is one of the fastest growing regions in Australia, with the population set to increase by over 40% over the next 20 years.</p><p>Preliminary modelling indicates that in 2016, when the Moreton Bay Rail Link opens, it will be used for over 20,000 trips per day.</p><p>Community consultation will begin in November. The project team will continue work to finalise the design of the project in readiness for a construction start date in 2012 with the first trains to start operations in 2016.<br /><strong><br />MTM buys Mimcom software</strong><br />Metro Trains Melbourne (MTM) has agreed to buy enterprise work and asset management software from Mincom, it was reported.</p><p>MTM reportedly said the software would help it “streamline preventative maintenance and management of its fleet of 150 trains, 211 train stations and 830km of track” and assist in workforce planning.</p><p>The MTM consortium comprises Hong Kong’s MTR Corporation, John Holland Group and UGL Rail.</p><p><strong>Coal exports jump at DBCT in August</strong><br />By Sineva Toevai<br />An improvement in the supply chain helped boost the amount of coal shipped from North Queensland’s Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminal (DBCT) by 12% in August. </p><p>Coal shipments from the world’s third-biggest coal terminal rose to 5.7mt in August from 5.1mt in July and the terminal loaded 61 ships compared with 48 in the previous month.</p><p>DBCT terminal manager Greg Smith attributed the increase volumes exported to the reopening of inloading and outloading facilities that were shut for maintenance in July and a better flow of coal from the mine to the terminal.</p><p>“Rail ran very well in August,” Smith said, comparing it to July when the dedicated coal rail line was shut for more than 100 hours.<br /><strong><br />Railway monument to honour fallen rail workers</strong><br />Victoria’s Department of Transport is seeking names for inclusion on a memorial honouring Australia’s rail workers. The Australian Railway Monument has been established in Werris Creek, New South Wales to acknowledge the major contribution made by the railway industry, its employees and contractors to Australia’s development and in particular, those who gave their lives in the course of their work.</p><p>“We are seeking your help and invite you to send us details of family and friends who were killed while on duty, or killed as a result of injuries sustained on duty on the railways in Victoria, including employees of railway organisations or contractors in the state, dating back to 1853,” public transport minister Martin Pakula said.</p><p>Specifically, the department is seeking information including: the name of the person, their employer and occupation, the date and description of their accident, where it occurred and the person’s date of birth.</p><p>For Victorians, visit:<a href="http://www.transport.vic.gov.au/history" target="_blank"> www.transport.vic.gov.au/history</a> for further information about the Australian Railway Monument project and to submit details of employees for Victoria.<br />For information on the monument visit: <a href="http://www.australianrailwaymonument.com.au " target="_blank">www.australianrailwaymonument.com.au </a><br /><br /><strong>Port Macquarie winery stocks Japananse high-speed train</strong><br />Port Macquarie’s Cassegrain Wines has sold over a million bottles of wine to Japanese bullet trains. The winery’s sales to the Central Japan Railway Company (CJRC) have reached the equivalent of 1,266,957 full bottles of wine since its first shipment in February 1996.</p><p>CJRC operates the Shinkansen high-speed train between Tokyo and Osaka, as well as conventional rail lines covering Nagoya and the Central Japan region.</p><p>Cassegrain is the only wine sold on board. <br />&nbsp</p>