Independent Rail of Australia

Independent Rail of Australia was an accredited railway freight operator in New South Wales, Australia.

Independent Rail of Australia
IndustryRailway operator
PredecessorParent company purchased by Qube Logistics
SuccessorQube Logistics
Founded1990
FounderLachlan Valley Railway
Defunct2012
Headquarters
Minto
Area served
New South Wales
ParentBowport Allroads Transport
Websitewww.mistrail.com

History

The company's origins can be traced back to 1990, when the Lachlan Valley Railway successfully tendered to operate wheat trains between Woodstock and Cowra on the Blayney to Cowra line for the Grain Handling Authority.[1] However, due to the line being closed for repairs, LVR grain services didn't commence until September 1993, with 4204 hauling the first services.[2] In August 1994 the LVR operated wheat trains from Trajere on the Eugowra line to Cowra with 47 class locomotives.[3]

In June 1999, LVRF commenced operating trip working services between Port Botany and the Cooks River container terminal in Sydney[4] followed in July 1999 by a service between Cooks River and Carrington for R&H Transport Services.[5] Congestion in Carrington saw the service diverted to the Toll Holdings siding at Sandgate.[6]

By October 2006, LVRF had been sold to Stephen Heraghty of Bowport Allroads Transport and rebranded as Independent Railways of Australia.[7]

Independent Rail provided services to Tamworth, Narrabri, Newcastle, Blayney, Cootamundra, Harefield, Minto and the Port Botany rail freight terminals.[8] It also operated a number of RailCorp and Australian Rail Track Corporation spoil and infrastructure trains.[9]

In June 2012, Qube Logistics announced it had purchased Independent Rail's parent company, Macarthur Intermodal Shipping Terminal, and would incorporate the Independent Rail fleet into its own.[10]

Fleet

The LVRF fleet initially consisted of 47 class locomotives owned by the Lachlan Valley Railway, 44 class locomotives from the affiliated Lachlan Alco Automotive Group[11] and ex Australian National wagons.[4][5]

In January 2000, LVRF commenced hiring locomotives from Chicago Freight Car Leasing Australia and Freight Australia and, in September 2000, from Great Northern Rail Services.[6][12]

In 2005, 16 second-hand MZ III class diesels from Danish operator Danske Statsbaner were purchased and reclassified as the 14 class.[13] In April 2009, Independent Rail purchased six 44 class locomotives from the Hunter Valley Railway Trust, having had them on lease for a while.[13] It also purchased a 47 class from the LVR.

gollark: ~~no, it's awful for most uses~~
gollark: They have decent FFIs.
gollark: We should write all our programs in a mix of Lua, Rust, Haskell and Python.
gollark: PRAISE RUST!
gollark: Everything is either off topic or haskell discussion.

References
  1. "LVR to carry wheat from Woodstock" Railway Digest January 1991 page 9
  2. "The Lachlan Valley Railway's Wheat Haulage" Railway Digest October 1993 page 420
  3. "The Lachlan Valley Railway commences operations on the Cowra - Eugowra line" Railway Digest September 1994 page 31
  4. "LVR Commences Sydney Freight Operations" Railway Digest July 1999 page 12
  5. "Lachlan Valley Rail Freight Expands Sydney Based Operations" Railway Digest September 1999 page 10
  6. "Lachlan Valley Rail Freight - ELs commence working Newcastle - Sydney freight" Railway Digest March 2000 page 33
  7. Stephen Heraghty Archived 19 April 2013 at the Wayback Machine Macarthur Regional Organisation of Councils
  8. "Australasian Railway Association Inc". Members. www.ara.net.au. Archived from the original on 20 August 2008. Retrieved 30 June 2008.
  9. "Major Players of NSW Railways". The Gunzel Diaries. raichase.livejournal.com. Retrieved 30 June 2008.
  10. Qube expands regional rail capacity Qube Logistics 7 June 2012
  11. Rollingstock Goodwin Alco
  12. "GNR Power in Sydney" Railway Digest October 2000 page 33
  13. Independent Rail Fleet Vicsig.net
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