In news that is unlikely to be music to QUB's ears, the Australian Rail Corporation is suddenly stating that it 'needs to close the Unanderra - Moss Vale, NSW rail line for between four and six months'.
This line was badly affected by recent NSW floods.
Apart from being famous for the 'Cockatoo Run' tourist passenger trains from Sydney, this mountainous line is a vital link for QUB's recently won steel train contract from Port Kembla down to Melbourne.
The alternative route from Moss Vale northwards on the main Sydney - Melbourne line through Bargo, Campbelltown, Leightonfield, Enfield, Sydenham NSW, Sutherland and Wollongong is very busy with some sections having high numbers of passenger and intermodal (container) trains such as the Sydney to Perths or Melbourne to Brisbanes. Plus there are five daily NSW TrainLink XPTs or XPlorer railcars each way between Sydney and Melbourne or Canberra, and twice weekly to/from Griffith. Additionally, there are many aggregate (construction materials) block trains as well as the Sydney 'rubbish train' conveying household waste to just south of Tarago on the Canberra line, plus coal trains from Tahmoor north of Moss Vale.
Another complication is there are curfews in place that normally prohibit the operation of freight trains through the Sydney suburban area on weekdays between 0600 - 1000 and in the arvo from 1500 to 1700 hours. This isn't a problem from Macarthur/Campbelltown into Sydney, as there's a separate Southern Sydney freight line but it will be an inhibitor on the line to Wollongong.
This will add to QUB's costs. One assumes the company will require extra train crews given how the steel haul to Melbourne and the empties back up to Port Kembla will be in transit longer.
The ARTC is a Commonwealth Government business enterprise that is not subject to FOI applications.
As far as one can see on its website, it's silent about this closure despite QUB and other publicly listed companies such as grain handler GNC being affected.
Not good, and ARTC: not good enough!
QUB Price at posting:
$3.03 Sentiment: Hold Disclosure: Held
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