<p>Parts of the rural rail freight systems in Victoria and New South Wales might yet have a white knight following Pacific National’s announced withdrawal, with QR telling <em>Lloyd’s List DCN</em> today (Tuesday, January 8) it wanted to expand into the states.</p> <p>However, QR said any move would be centred on grain,</p> <p>"QR subsidiary Australian Railroad Group (ARG) operates QR’s existing grain operations in Western Australia, South Australia and Queensland," a spokesman said. </p> <p>"ARG is interested in expanding its grain freight operations to NSW and Victoria. </p> <p>"However, ARG is more likely to establish its own operations in NSW and Victoria rather than purchase significant amounts of Pacific National’s assets.</p> <p>"In relation to Tasmania, QR has no plans at this time to operate in Tasmania."</p> <p>QRNational, in its submission to the Fischer Report on Victoria’s rural rail freight sector, made plain that, as a national operator, it had an interest in a state system that "cannot be seen in isolation as it has critical links to the rest of Australia".</p> <br />
