QR open for business with private sector, says acting boss

<p>QR is committed to national expansion of its freight business and is seeking new opportunities and private-sector partners to make this happen, acting chief executive Stephen Cantwell said today (Friday, July 27).</p> <p>With Queensland premier Peter Beattie flagging greater private enterprise involvement in QR, and Linfox and Toll expressing a desire t pick up any privatised assets,Mr Cantwell said it was no secret that QR had been seeking opportunities in the marketplace to find potential private-sector partners to join QR in the freight business.</p> <p>&#8220That’s the reason we bought CRT in 2005 and ARG in 2006,&#8221 he said. &#8220We need additional scope, scale and capability to compete nationally. This can be achieved quickly with private-sector partners.</p> <p>&#8220With the national general freight market expected to double in the next decade and the resources sector booming we’re in a prime position to take advantage of the growth opportunities expected in rail.</p> <p>&#8220We know that we can compete and be successful in interstate markets. We have proven that in NSW with the winning of coal business.</p> <p>&#8220But we recognise that QR needs to keep evolving and re-shape itself for the future. We need to take a major step forward and grow the business rapidly.&#8221</p> <p>Mr Cantwell said it was not his role to comment on any reviews that might be considered by the State Government, the owners of QR.</p> <p>&#8220QR will continue to review its organisational structure as is standard practice for any large corporation with a portfolio of businesses,&#8221 he said. </p> <p>&#8220That’s what we’ve done with the recent decision to create three stand-alone businesses in bulk freight, coal, and intermodal and regional freight. </p> <p>&#8220We’ve received much attention recently about performance in the coal business, and we’re listening to our customers’ concerns. </p> <p>&#8220We understand the O’Donnell review of the Goonyella system will be released next week, and our clear focus will be on getting on with implementation of the review recommendations.&#8221</p> <br />