The Australian rail industry comprises rail operators (freight and passenger), manufacturers, suppliers, track access corporations, maintenance and construction contractors, logistics providers and other companies providing support to the industry.
Privatization has had a significant impact on the rail industry, resulting in a shift away from government towards the majority of ownership and management of railways being private enterprises.
The 2003 Rail Industry Survey conducted by the ARA reports there are over 300 private and public companies involved in the rail industry, with the 25 largest rail and track owners collectively employing 42,000 people in the rail industry.
Ownership and management of Australia’s railways vary depending on the state and rail network. They are generally divided into ‘below track’ (track and infrastructure management) and ‘above rail’ (operators of trains and rolling stock).
Access to rail networks are generally managed by the track manager and guided by access regulations. Competition between above rail operators is encouraged, but in reality rail freight haulage is generally conducted by the major freight operators:
- Pacific National
- Australian Railroad Group (ARG)
- Queensland Rail
- Freightlink
- Genesee and Wyoming Pty Ltd, and
- SCT Logistics.
Key statistics for Australian rail freight haulage reported in the Australian Rail Industry Report 2006 include:
- In 2005-06, 992.91 million tonnes of freight was carried by rail, representing a 9.6% increase from the 2002-03 freight load of 906.33 million tonnes.
- Ancillary freight (movement of an entity’s own freight by in-house operators) accounted for 64.5% of freight carried in 2005-06.
- The remaining 35.5% of rail freight was carried under hire and reward arrangements (transport operators that carry freight for third party entities on a commercial basis).
- Bulk cargoes made up 94.8% of the rail freight task in 2005-06 or 941.45 million tonnes.
- Bulk transport of coal and mineral ores made up the majority of rail freight task, with 51% and 27% of the total tonnage moved respectively.
- Non-bulk cargo has increased from 3.5% of the total freight task in 2002-03 to 5.2% in 2005-06.
Source: http://www.ntc.gov.au/filemedia/Reports/RailProductivityReviewIssueAug08.pdf
Links:
Australian Railway Association
National Transport Commission
Rail Innovation Australia
Rail Industry Safety and Standards Board