Article: QR coal unit plans scrapped: Bligh

[ozbob]

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QR coal unit plans scrapped: Bligh

QR coal unit plans scrapped: Bligh

Premier Anna Bligh has confirmed Queensland Rail (QR) has scrapped plans for a separate coal unit.

QR has been considering a scheme to split into passenger, coal and freight divisions.

Ms Bligh says while the restructure is still underway, it will not include coal.

"There has been a number of consultations with unions which I understand has seen the result of a different structure that won't see coal as a separate company," she said.

"The restructure of Queensland Rail will see the creation of a number of proprietary limited companies, particularly in the freight area but coal will be established in a slightly different way."

[mufreight]

The seperation of passangers and freight can possibly be justified despite some of the problems that it has created, Citytrain and Traveltrain have no locos and rely on the freight division when they require locos which means that when there is a power outage diesels are not readily avaliable to haul electrified passanger services through the dead sections and maintain services.  Traveltrain has to hire locos for the non electrified country services from the freight division, not the best of situations.
Spliting up the freigh division into say intermodial, general freight, coal and grain divisions would mean the duplication of many tasks, require further administration staff and require a currently needless dulpication of assets such as locomotives and would restrict the interchange of crews from group to group to meet traffic needs.
About time the smart state started to get smart, as it is QR is the best operated rail system in the country so why the proposed changes.
Railways in this state are an asset owned by the electors of this state administered by the Government for the benefit of the community not the politicians something that the political egos seem to have lost sight of.
Remind your local member.
Cheers