LAU has a contract with Pacific National that gives LAU...

LAU has a contract with Pacific National that gives LAU container wagon slots on PN's frequent interstate intermodal services.

This morning, listed AZJ (Aurizon) has announced it'll recommence interstate intermodal trains from April 2023: two a week initially Melbourne-Brisbane and return, and five a week across to Perth. (See the AZJ page on 'Hc').

Perhaps in time this extra competition will see unlisted Pacific National (and the third freight rail operator on interstate routes, SCT) having to reduce freight rates per tonne-kilometre.

LAU may eventually be a beneficiary.

The increased competition may also see a bit more freight switching from interstate road to interstate rail. Road can be faster (especially to Brisbane, c.24 hours compared to about 32 hours plus for rail via its current slow route with all those curves on the Junee to Goulburn NSW and Maitland to Casino sections of the Melbourne-Sydney-Brisbane lines) but road transport has a national shortage of truck drivers. It's also environmentally damaging compared with efficient rail freight, and B-Doubles and other heavy trucks pose a danger on the roads to private motorists. Ask anyone who's been tailgated by a monster truck!