Locomotive shortages ?

[ozbob]

From the Queensland Parliament Hansard 17th June 2009

http://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/view/legislativeAssembly/hansard/documents/2009.pdf/2009_06_17_DAILY.pdf

Queensland Rail

Mr HOBBS: I have a question for the Minister for Transport. When will the rail freight services on
the south-west line from Brisbane to Quilpie and Cunnamulla and the central line from Rockhampton to
Winton that have been cut be reinstated? What will happen to the Queensland Rail employees who
have been stood down?

Ms NOLAN: I spoke to the CEO of Queensland Rail about this issue just a few days ago and
have received two assurances. The first is that these services will shortly be restored. The second is
that Queensland Rail customers will in future be communicated with in a much more effective way than
has happened to this point. Queensland Rail is a commercial operation running freight, livestock, grain
and other services in Western Queensland. It is appropriate that the organisation should be run
commercially, but it is also appropriate that customers should get full and frank information from the
people who run QR. That is specifically what I have requested.

Nonetheless, as this issue has unfolded there has, frankly, been a degree of dishonesty from
members of the LNP in recent times. Members of the LNP have tried to argue in their own communities
and on ABC Radio that the recent changes to QR?s regional freight services are somehow related to the
government?s announcement that it intends to privatise Queensland Rail?s coal network. That is simply
untrue. What in fact has happened is that QR has had some problems with locomotives on the network.
It has had some breakdowns and it is trying to manage that as best it can.

That had started before privatisation was even on the agenda. So to suggest, as these members
have done to their constituents, that what is currently happening is somehow a function of a privatisation
announcement is quite simply dishonest and is quite simply untrue. That is what these members have
suggested, and that is quite simply not the case.

I want to make the point that Queensland Rail is a commercial operation. It is appropriate that its
management run this organisation on commercial terms. It is quite simply appropriate that that is the
case. But it is also appropriate that Queensland Rail tells its customers what is going on. I as minister do
not feel that that was fully done in this case, so I have directed that that should occur.

The assurances which I have received are twofold: firstly, that the customers will be better
communicated with; and, secondly, that the services will soon be improved. But this is nothing to do, as
members have dishonestly suggested, with the entirely separate issue of privatisation on the coal
network. I think it is important that we all tell the truth.
(Time expired)
Further Answer

[Dean Quick]

The simple fact of the matter is that QR are only interested in hauling coal and any other traffic is seen as a distraction and a hinderence. The latest excuse is a shortage of locomotives-what a load of rubbish!!! I regularly visit the port of brisbane and I find myself perplexed at the amount of trucks lined up down the road to unload grain at the terminal whilst the adjacent rail unloader sits idle? Obviously grain has also ended up in the too hard basket!!

[mufreight]

Now despite deliveries of new and upgraded rebuilt locomotives and a drop in the demand for coal we still have a shortage of locomotives which is now being used as an excuse to cancel cattle trains.
The 3900 class electrics are no longer needed for coal haulage and could be returned to main line freight services and the line up of diesels at Redbank could readily be returned to service so obviously the Government has a different agenda here, apparently as a justification for more line closures.
A good question to ask your local MP and see what conflicting answers you get.