<span class="" id="parent-fieldname-description"> </span> <p><strong>QR sale update</strong><br />Estimates suggest that QR will raise about $4b in equity and $3b in debt, creating a $7b group, when it lists on the Australian Stock Exchange later this year, it was reported.<br />QR is gearing to split QR passenger and QRNational by June 30th, however this will depend on the Queensland Competition Authority’s final report QR’s access agreement, it was reported.</p><p><strong>Kuranda scenic railway to remain closed for at least 4 weeks<br /></strong>Restricted services on Queensland’s Kuranda Scenic Railway will start by the end of the week, following last month’s derailment. The 30 minute services will run between Kuranda and Barron Falls, a much needed boost for tourism in the area.<br />QR passenger executive general manager Paul Scurrah said the all clear to commence restricted services came after careful consideration in the wake of the March 26th landslip. <br />“Since this event occurred, we have been very conscious of the concerns of the local tourism industry, including businesses at Kuranda,” Scurrah said. <br />The reopening of the full Kuranda Scenic Railway service, from Redlynch to Kuranda, would remain suspended until the completion of the full safety assessment which is expected to take at least four weeks.<br />Scurrah said the advice of geotechnical experts was essential to completing a full risk assessment.<br />“With 33 km of track this is a complex, thorough and incredibly important assessment,” he said.<br />“I appreciate how frustrating this uncertainty is to the Cairns community and I apologise for that.<br />“It is our intention to reopen the full Kuranda Scenic Railway as soon as possible, however QR will not compromise on safety.”<br />For information visit:  <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ksr.com.au">www.ksr.com.au</a></p><p><strong>Unions express concern over safety of Melbourne’s trains</strong><br />The Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) and the Police Association have reportedly come together in a call for more staff on Melbourne’s “unsafe” rail system.<br />Metro Trains Melbourne runs the city’s train system, however the RTBU said that it is the government’s responsibility to provide more workers on stations and trains, it was reported.</p><p> </p>
