Mark Carter

AUSTRALIAN rail freight operator SCT Logistics has announced it will launch its first services on the Melbourne - Brisbane interstate corridor in January 2017, the first time a private operator has challenged the two major players already operating on the route, Pacific National and Aurizon.

THE government of the Australian state of New South Wales (NSW) has announced a new metro line will be built between Parramatta and the Sydney business district, with construction expected to commence within the next five years.

AUSTRALIAN rail freight operator Aurizon has released figures for the third quarter of 2016 which show that rail volumes are consistent with expectations, and that there is a continued decrease in total coal volumes but an improvement in its intermodal business.

US regional rail operator Genesee & Wyoming (GWI) announced on October 20 that its Genesee & Wyoming Australia (GWA) subsidiary has entered into agreements to acquire Glencore Rail (GRail) for $A 1.14bn ($US 870m) and will also issue a 49% equity stake in GWA to funds managed by Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets (Mira).

THE Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) released a combined statement of issues on October 6 on alternative proposals from Aurizon and Pacific National to acquire Glencore Coal’s Hunter Valley rail business.

THE Australian state of Victoria announced on September 12 that the Evolution Rail consortium, which comprises Downer, CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles and Plenary Group, has been selected to deliver the High Capacity Metro Trains (HCMT) public-private partnership (PPP) project for the Melbourne suburban rail network.

MAJOR upgrades to the Australian state of Victoria’s regional rail network will be required over the next 20-30 years to accommodate projected population growth, according to a report prepared by the Melbourne-based Rail Futures Institute, which was released on September 5.

THE split up of Australian logistics and transport specialist Asciano, parent company of major rail freight operator Pacific National (PN), was initiated on August 19 following shareholder approval and signing off by the relevant regulatory authorities.

WESTERN Australia track owner Brookfield Rail has announced on August 15 it will undertake all regular track maintenance activities over the state’s 5500km multi-user rail freight network, previously undertaken by John Holland.