One Rail Australia

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One Rail Australia was an Australian rail freight operator company. Founded by a United States short line railroad holding company, Genesee & Wyoming Inc, in 1997 as Australian Southern Railroad, and successively renamed Australian Railroad Group and Genesee & Wyoming Australia, it was renamed One Rail Australia in February 2020 after the American company sold its remaining shareholding. In July 2022, assets from the South Australian, Northern Territory and interstate operations of the company were sold to rail operator company Aurizon Holdings Limited. The remaining assets, relating to coal haulage in New South Wales and Queensland, were sold in February 2023 to Magnetic Rail Group.

Corporate history

Template:Larger
File:ASR et seq structures diagram.jpg
Click to enlarge
File:G&W-grain-train-geelong-australia.jpg
A standard-gauge train of Chicago Freight Car Leasing Australia grain hopper cars near Geelong in 2007, hauled by GWA's CL, GM and 2200 class locomotives
File:GWA narrow-gauge iron ore train, Middleback Range-Whyalla.jpg
A narrow-gauge iron ore train on the heavy-haul line between the Middleback Range and Whyalla, South Australia
File:AdelaideRail 8.jpg
GWA operated the broad-gauge train between Penrice limestone quarry and the Adelaide outer suburb of Osborne until 2014, when the soda ash factory closed

Genesee & Wyoming Inc was one of several US regional railroad companies to take advantage of the privatisation of Australian rail freight operations in the 1990s.[1] In 1997 its Australian subsidiary (named Australian Southern Railroad at the time) acquired the South Australian rail freight assets of Australian National from the Australian federal government, which included a 50-year lease on the South Australian network from the state government.[2][3][4][5] Operations commenced in November 1997 under the Australian Southern Railroad brand.[6][7]

In 2000, Australian Railroad Group, a 50–50 joint venture between Genesee & Wyoming and Wesfarmers, took over the Westrail freight business in Western Australia and branded it as Australian Western Railroad.[8][9] As part of the joint venture agreement, ownership of Australian Southern Railroad passed to the Australian Railroad Group.[10] In 2002, Australian Southern Railroad, Australian Western Railroad and Australian National Railways were brought together as the Australian Railroad Group.[11][12]

In 2006, Australian Railroad Group sold its Western Australian operations to Queensland Rail and WestNet Rail.[13] Simultaneously, Wesfarmers sold its 50% interest in the remainder of Australian Railroad Group to Genesee & Wyoming Inc, and the business was rebranded Genesee & Wyoming Australia (GWA).[14]

In 2010, GWA purchased the assets of FreightLink from that company's receivers and took over its operations.[15][16] As a consequence, under a build–own–operate–and–transfer ("BOOT") agreement it became the lessor of the Alice Springs to Darwin section of the Adelaide–Darwin rail corridor until 2054, when ownership was to pass to the Australian federal government.[17] It also became the lessee (from the Australian Rail Track Corporation) of the Tarcoola to Alice Springs sector until 2047. After this acquisition, GWA became the largest of 11 regions around the world in which Genesee & Wyoming Inc operated.[6]

After Freightliner Group was purchased by Genesee & Wyoming Inc in 2015, Freightliner's Australian operations were integrated with those of GWA.[18]

By 2016, GWA had been operating Glencore Rail's assets with fellow Genesee & Wyoming Inc subsidiary Freightliner for some time under a 20-year contract.[19] In conjunction with Macquarie Infrastructure & Real Assets, the company acquired Glencore's Hunter Valley business. Concurrently, Genesee & Wyoming Inc acquired a 49% equity stake in GWA.[20][21]

In 2019, when the US parent Genesee & Wyoming Inc was sold to Brookfield Infrastructure Partners and GIC Private Limited, GWA was not included.[22][23] Because Brookfield already had other rail assets in Australia that could well have led to the companies regulator, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), to block the purchase, the 51% shareholding that Genesee & Wyoming Inc had in GWA was sold separately to PGGM.[24][25] On departure of its US parent, the company was rebranded as One Rail Australia.[26][27]

Sale

In October 2021, Aurizon agreed on terms to purchase One Rail Australia. To ameliorate an expected concern of the ACCC about dilution of competition in the Hunter Valley and Queensland coal haulage market, in which the company already operated, Aurizon made a court-enforceable undertaking to divest the coal haulage part of its business.[28][29] The ACCC did not oppose the company's sale,[30][31] which took effect on 29 July 2022.[32][29] Template:Refn

Assets assigned to be divested included 51 locomotives, 1468 freight vehicles, leases to four depots and offices, and two maintenance facilities.[28]Template:Rp [33] Assets acquired by Aurizon through ownership or leaseholding were Script error: No such module "convert". of track, 60 locomotives, 770 freight vehicles, five terminals, and six maintenance facilities. Template:Refn About 400 employees transferred.

At the time of the sale, the South Australian, Northern Territory and interstate haulage operations were carrying about 10 million tonnes annually.Template:Refn The divested part of the business conveyed 45 million tonnes of coal annually. Its disposal was arranged by a business unit operated separately from Aurizon, with an independent board and management and an ACCC-approved independent manager.[31] Magnetic Rail Group purchased the assets in February 2023.[34]

The sale price of the divested assets was AUD2.35 billion.[35]

Operational history

File:Map of One Rail Australia facilities and serviced lines.png
Before One Rail Australia was sold in July 2022, its operations spanned the entire Australian mainland. The purchaser, Aurizon, retained all assets other than those related to coal haulage in New South Wales and Queensland (pink areas), which were purchased by Magnetic Rail Group in February 2023. (Click to enlarge.)

In 1999, Australian Railroad Group started operating services from Adelaide to Melbourne for Patrick Corporation.[36] In that year the company also contracted with Liberty House Group to operate iron ore trains on its line from Middleback Range to Whyalla.[37]

In 2001, the company began operating services from Adelaide to Sydney via Broken Hill and Cootamundra.[38][39] In 2003, it started operating within New South Wales when it was awarded a five-year contract to haul flour, grain and starch for the Manildra Group.[40]

In 2004, when the Alice Springs to Darwin section of the Adelaide–Darwin rail corridor was completed, the company commenced operating intermodal train services between Adelaide and Darwin supported by freight and passenger facilities owned and operated at Alice Springs, Tennant Creek, Katherine and Darwin.[41]

In 2008, as Genesee and Wyoming Australia, the company signed a five-year deal with ABB Grain to haul grain trains in Victoria.[42]

In 2010, when the company purchased the lease of the Alice Springs to Darwin section of the Adelaide–Darwin rail corridor and leased the Tarcoola-to-Alice Springs section, it also undertook train control for both lines.[43]Template:Refn As of 2019, the weekly traffic on the line (in each direction) was six inter-modal, long-distance freight trains and The Ghan, an experiential tourism train.[44][45]

The company's market was expanded in 2020, when a coal hauling contract was started in Queensland.[46]

Lines operated and serviced

As of 2021, One Rail Australia leased Script error: No such module "convert". of Template:RailGauge standard-gauge and Script error: No such module "Track gauge".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". narrow-gauge track.[33] They were in two categories, since the company owned or leased some trackage and utilised some provided by other entities; three were narrow-gauge:

  • lines leased by the company, on which it provided services (described as "above and below ground"):
– the Script error: No such module "convert". standard-gauge Tarcoola–Darwin route[47][43]
– the Script error: No such module "convert". narrow-gauge gypsum line to Thevenard[48][49]
  • lines owned by other companies, on which One Rail Australia provided services (described as "above ground"):
– the federally owned interstate main lines from Kalgoorlie to Victoria and New South Wales[50]
– main lines owned by state government authorities, of which the lines in Queensland were narrow-gauge[50]
– the Script error: No such module "convert". narrow-gauge iron ore lines to Whyalla owned by Liberty House Group.[48][51]
File:Map of rail access regimes in South Australia, 2021.tif
One Rail Australia commenced its operations in South Australia and the Northern Territory and on interstate routes under a variety of rail access arrangements involving leasing, ownership and operation of different lines. Aurizon inherited the arrangements on these lines when it purchased One Rail Australia in 2022. (Click to enlarge.)

The adjacent map summarises rail access arrangements for lines in South Australia and the Northern Territory, which formed the initial core of the company's operations. In South Australia, under a state government lease ending in 2047, the company operated and managed the non-metropolitan railway network except for routes to other states, and made it accessible to other companies. It also managed some yards and sidings attached to the ARTC main lines.[52][50][53]

The South Australian open-access regime included lines serving grain silos in the Murraylands and on Eyre Peninsula: respectively Script error: No such module "convert". of broad gauge and Script error: No such module "convert". of narrow gauge.[54] Viterra, the monopoly grain handler in South Australia, progressively closed most silos served by the Murraylands lines, resulting in rail haulage ending in the period 2002–2015. Viterra also moved to road transport on the Eyre Peninsula in 2019, resulting in the peninsula network becoming dormant except for the gypsum haulage line from Lake MacDonnell to the port of Thevenard near Ceduna. The Murraylands and Eyre Peninsula networks were the last remnants of the lightly built lines that had been crucial in establishing agriculture in South Australia.[55] Template:Refn

Locomotive fleet

since November 2021Template:Dated maintenance category (articles)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters"., One Rail Australia's locomotive fleet totalled 132, including 16 in storage, of 24 different classes, as shown in the following table.[56] Template:Refn The table also shows the 51 locomotives of the 2200, GWA, GWN, GWU and XRN classes that were included in the divested assets eventually purchased by Magnetic Rail Group in February 2023.[28]Template:Rp


Class Image No. in use No. stored Gauge Year built Notes
500 File:500 class South Australian Loco.jpg 1 Standard 1964 Ex Australian National, formerly South Australian Railways
700 File:Former South Australian Railways diesel-electric locomotive no 703 at National Railway Museum (Bob Sampson).jpg 5Template:Refn Broad, standard 1971 Ex Australian National, formerly South Australian Railways
830 File:830 class loco-South Australia-1983.jpg 2 3 Broad,
standard,
narrow 		1960–
1966 		Ex Australian National, formerly South Australian Railways
900 File:Penrice limestone train2.jpg 3 4 Standard,
narrow 		1960–
1966 		Rebuilt from 830 and 48 class locomotives
1200 File:AA1517 Kelmscott-Challis, 1986 cropped.jpg 2 Narrow 1960–
1967 		Ex Australian Railroad Group, ex Westrail, formerly Western Australian Government Railways A class
1300 File:Genesee and Wyoming Australia diesel loco 1301 near Whyalla velodrome 6 Dec 2012 (Mel Turner) -- cropped.jpg 4 Narrow 1956–
1961 		Ex BHP Whyalla DE class
1600 File:1606 Thevenard, 2017 (01).jpg 3 Narrow 1971 Ex Australian National, formerly Commonwealth Railways NJ class
1900 File:D 1562 Bunbury Port, 2004.jpg 1 Narrow 1972 Ex Australian Railroad Group, ex Westrail, formerly Western Australian Government Railways D class
2200 File:Nsw-asr-2208-newport.jpg 5 Standard 1969–
1970 		Ex FreightCorp, ex State Rail Authority, formerly Public Transport Commission 422 class.
In the sale of One Rail Australia assets in 2022, locomotive no. 2216 was one of the assets to be divested, on account of competition factors, from those purchased by Aurizon;[28] in February 2023 it was part of those assets when purchased by Magnetic Rail Group.[34]
2250 File:GWA narrow-gauge iron ore train, Middleback Range-Whyalla.jpg 5 Narrow 1971 Repatriated from South Africa, ex Aurizon, ex Queensland Railways 2250 class
ALF File:Genesee & Wyoming ALF21.jpg 7 Standard 1976–
1977 		Ex Australian National, formerly Commonwealth Railways AL class
CK File:Great-northern-t-class-melbourne.jpg 4 Narrow 1967–
1968 		Ex V/Line, formerly Victorian Railways T class
CLF File:Arg-intermodal-lara-australia.jpg 2 Standard 1970–
1972 		Ex Australian National, formerly Commonwealth Railways CL class
CLP File:G&W-grain-train-geelong-australia.jpg 4 Standard 1970–
1972 		Ex Australian National, formerly Commonwealth Railways
FJ File:J104 Forrestfield, 1986.JPG 2 Standard 1966 Ex FreightLink ex Western Australian Government Railways J class
FQ File:Arrival of the first Ghan into Darwin.jpg 4 Standard 2003 Ex FreightLink
G File:Pacific-national-g-classes.jpg 2 Standard 1988 Ex Freightliner, ex SCT Logistics, ex Pacific National, ex Freight Australia ex V/Line G class
GM File:GM43 train.JPG 4 5 Standard 1965–
1967 		Ex Australian National, formerly Commonwealth Railways
GWA File:GWAClassOnSouthlineGrain.png 10 Standard 2011–
2012 		In the sale of One Rail Australia assets in 2022, 4 locomotives of this class were among the assets to be divested, on account of competition factors, from those purchased by Aurizon;[28] in February 2023 they were part of those assets when purchased by Magnetic Rail Group.[34]
GWB File:Icon -- loco photo needed.png
Upload a photo 		3 Standard 2019
GWN File:QRNATIONAL 4140.JPG 5 Narrow 2012 Transferred from Whyalla to Queensland.
In the sale of One Rail Australia assets in 2022, 5 locomotives of this class (nos GWN 001 to GWN 005) were among the assets to be divested, on account of competition factors, from those purchased by Aurizon;[28] in February 2023 they were part of those assets when purchased by Magnetic Rail Group.[34]
GWU File:GWU Class.png 11 Standard 2012–
2021 		In the sale of One Rail Australia assets in 2022, 11 locomotives of this class (nos GWU 001 to GWU 011) were among the assets to be divested, on account of competition factors, from those purchased by Aurizon;[28] in February 2023 they were part of those assets when purchased by Magnetic Rail Group.[34]
XRN File:One Rail Australia XRN class locomotive no 009, Dec 2020.jpg 30 Standard 2010-
2012 		Previously owned by Glencore, built for Xstrata.
In the sale of One Rail Australia assets in 2022, all locomotives of this class were among the assets to be divested, on account of competition factors, from those purchased by Aurizon;[28] in February 2023 they were part of those assets when purchased by Magnetic Rail Group.[34]
V File:V544 Mambray Creek Aug07.jpg 1 Standard 2002 Purchased from Pacific National in early 2021

Notes

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References

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  1. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  2. ↑ "Australia Southern Railroad" Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin August 2000 pp283-284
  3. ↑ "Here & There" Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin issue 720 October 1997 page 382
  4. ↑ "AN Sale: Private Owners Go From Zero to Three" Railway Digest October 1997 page 8
  5. ↑ "Three groups take on AN remains" Railway Gazette International October 1997 page 703
  6. ↑ a b GWA history Genesee & Wyoming
  7. ↑ "Genesee and Wyoming starts up with new name" Railway Digest December 1997 page 8
  8. ↑ "Australian Railroad Group buys Westrail freight" Railway Digest October 2000 page 23
  9. ↑ Company History Wesfarmers
  10. ↑ "Here & There" Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin issue 763 May 2001 page 195
  11. ↑ "ASR, AWR and ANR become Australian Railroad Group" Railway Digest September 2002 page 8
  12. ↑ "Intelligence" Railway Gazette International October 2002 page 612
  13. ↑ Sale of Australian Railroad Group Wesfarmers 14 February 2006
  14. ↑ "Australian Railroad Group sold to QR" Railway Digest March 2006 page 4
  15. ↑ Genesee & Wyoming Signs Deal to Acquire Freightlink Template:Webarchive railway-technology.com 11 June 2010
  16. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  17. ↑ AustralAsia link making rapid progress Template:Webarchive Railway Gazette International 1 April 2002.
    Paid subscription required subscription: the source is only accessible via a paid subscription ("paywall").
  18. ↑ G&W concludes Freightliner acquisition Railway Age 27 March 2015
  19. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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  20. ↑ Genesee & Wyoming developments into Australia Railway Age 20 October 2016
  21. ↑ GW and Macquarie to buy Glencore Rail coal haulage business Template:Webarchive Railway Gazette International 20 October 2016
  22. ↑ Genesee & Wyoming sold in $8.4 billion deal Template:Webarchive Trains 1 July 2019
  23. ↑ Genesee & Wyoming to be acquired in US$8·4bn deal Template:Webarchive Railway Gazette International 1 July 2019
  24. ↑ New owners confirmed for G&W Australia Template:Webarchive International Railway Journal 9 August 2019
  25. ↑ Freightliner owner Genesee & Wyoming sold for $8.4billion The Railway Magazine issue 1422 September 2019 page 10
  26. ↑ Genesee & Wyoming Australia renamed One Rail Australia following acquisition International Railway Journal 17 February 2020
  27. ↑ New name for Genesee & Wyoming Australia Template:Webarchive Rail Express 19 February 2020
  28. ↑ a b c d e f g h Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  29. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  30. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  31. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  32. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  33. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  34. ↑ a b c d e f Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  35. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  36. ↑ "ASR Rail Shuttle Takes Trucks out of Port Adelaide" Railway Digest September 1999 page 15
  37. ↑ "ASR Takes Over BHP Whyalla Steel Lines" Railway Digest January 2000 page 13
  38. ↑ New ASR Freight Service to Sydney Catch Point issue 144 July 2001 page 5
  39. ↑ ASR Starts Adelaide - Sydney Service Railway Digest July 2001 page 5
  40. ↑ "ARG wins Manildra contract from Pacific National" Railway Digest November 2003 page 5
  41. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  42. ↑ "ABB Grain in five-year deal with GWA" Template:Webarchive Sydney Morning Herald 17 September 2008
  43. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  44. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  45. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  46. ↑ One Rail begins operations in Queensland Railway Digest May 2020 page 15
  47. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  48. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  49. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  50. ↑ a b c Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  51. ↑ Whyalla–Iron Duke/IronKnob Template:Webarchive SA Track & Signal
  52. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  53. ↑ Cite error: Script error: No such module "Namespace detect".Script error: No such module "Namespace detect".
  54. ↑ Network map Template:Webarchive Genesee & Wyoming Australia
  55. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  56. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".

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External links

Template:Genesee & Wyoming Script error: No such module "Navbox".

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