Interail
Encyclopedia
Interail is an Australia
n rail freight operator based in Casino
, New South Wales
.
Interail was launched on May 31, 2002, as the interstate running arm of Queensland Rail
, entering railway operations in New South Wales with the acquisition of Northern Rivers Railroad. This provided standard gauge locomotives and rolling stock to the company, which were not available from the narrow gauge parent Queensland Rail.
In 1990 the Northern Rivers Scenic Railroad (NRSR) was established to run tourist trains from Casino to Murwillumbah
in the far north of New South Wales. Locomotives and rolling stock were acquired, and restored at the former State Rail Authority of New South Wales depot at Casino.
In the mid 1990s the Hilmer Report
increased competition on the state owned railways, and the Northern Rivers Railroad (NRR) established to operate trains for the NRSR. The Northern Rivers Railroad was officially launched on October 2, 1997, and commenced running freight trains of in a joint venture with FreightCorp between Casino and Murwillumbah using 421 class locomotives
. Cement and flyash was the initial traffic, followed by the Ritz Rail tourist train from Murwillumbah to Lismore
, and occasional rail maintenance workings.
of New South Wales. It was followed by the first coal haulage contract from Dulalie Colliery to Stratford Mine in NSW from March 2003, then haulage of containers between Casino and Fishermans Island in Brisbane from May 2003. Another coal contract in the Hunter Valley
was won in late 2003 for the haulage of coal from Newstan Colliery near Fassifern
to Vales Point power station.
Interail then expanded in 2004 with a Melbourne
to Brisbane
intermodal service, in part due to the linehaul needs of Colin Rees Transport. Since parent company Queensland Rail
launched the QRNational brand in 2005 it is unknown how long the Interail brand will remain in use.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n rail freight operator based in Casino
Casino, New South Wales
Casino is a town in the Northern Rivers area of New South Wales, Australia, with a population of 9,400 people . It lies on the banks of the Richmond River and is situated at the junction of the Bruxner Highway and the Summerland Way....
, New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
.
Creation
Queensland Rail
Queensland Rail, also known as QR, is a government-owned railway operator in the state of Queensland. Under the control of the Queensland Government, Queensland Rail operates the inner-city and long-distance passenger services, as well as some freight operations and gives railway access to other...
, entering railway operations in New South Wales with the acquisition of Northern Rivers Railroad. This provided standard gauge locomotives and rolling stock to the company, which were not available from the narrow gauge parent Queensland Rail.
In 1990 the Northern Rivers Scenic Railroad (NRSR) was established to run tourist trains from Casino to Murwillumbah
Murwillumbah, New South Wales
Murwillumbah is a town of approximately 7,500 people in far north-eastern New South Wales, Australia in the Tweed Shire. It lies on the Tweed River, 848 km north-east of Sydney, 13 km south of the Queensland border and 132 km south of Brisbane. At the 2006 census, Murwillumbah had a...
in the far north of New South Wales. Locomotives and rolling stock were acquired, and restored at the former State Rail Authority of New South Wales depot at Casino.
In the mid 1990s the Hilmer Report
National Competition Policy
The term National Competition Policy refers to a set of policies introduced in Australia in the 1990s with the aim of promoting microeconomic reform.-Origins:...
increased competition on the state owned railways, and the Northern Rivers Railroad (NRR) established to operate trains for the NRSR. The Northern Rivers Railroad was officially launched on October 2, 1997, and commenced running freight trains of in a joint venture with FreightCorp between Casino and Murwillumbah using 421 class locomotives
New South Wales 421 class locomotive
The 421 class was built in between 1965 and 1966 by the Clyde Engineering in Granville, New South Wales. These mainline locomotives were a follow on from the 42 class units, which had one cab only. The locomotives retained the classic "bulldog nose" as with the other Clyde built locomotives, i.e....
. Cement and flyash was the initial traffic, followed by the Ritz Rail tourist train from Murwillumbah to Lismore
Lismore, New South Wales
Lismore is a subtropical town in northeastern New South Wales, Australia. Lismore is the main population centre in the City of Lismore local government area. Lismore is a regional centre in the Northern Rivers region of the State.-History:...
, and occasional rail maintenance workings.
Operations
The first contract held by Interail was the maintenance contract for the North Coast lineNorth Coast railway line, New South Wales
The North Coast Line is the primary rail route in the Mid North Coast and Northern Rivers regions of New South Wales, and forms a major part of the Sydney-Brisbane rail corridor....
of New South Wales. It was followed by the first coal haulage contract from Dulalie Colliery to Stratford Mine in NSW from March 2003, then haulage of containers between Casino and Fishermans Island in Brisbane from May 2003. Another coal contract in the Hunter Valley
Hunter Valley
The Hunter Region, more commonly known as the Hunter Valley, is a region of New South Wales, Australia, extending from approximately to north of Sydney with an approximate population of 645,395 people. Most of the population of the Hunter Region lives within of the coast, with 55% of the entire...
was won in late 2003 for the haulage of coal from Newstan Colliery near Fassifern
Fassifern, New South Wales
Fassifern is a suburb of the City of Lake Macquarie, in New South Wales, Australia, located west of Lake Macquarie.The Sydney-Newcastle railway line runs through Fassifern railway station, which is a major station along the line...
to Vales Point power station.
Interail then expanded in 2004 with a Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
to Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
intermodal service, in part due to the linehaul needs of Colin Rees Transport. Since parent company Queensland Rail
Queensland Rail
Queensland Rail, also known as QR, is a government-owned railway operator in the state of Queensland. Under the control of the Queensland Government, Queensland Rail operates the inner-city and long-distance passenger services, as well as some freight operations and gives railway access to other...
launched the QRNational brand in 2005 it is unknown how long the Interail brand will remain in use.
External links
- http://www.interail.com.au/ Official site
- Interail fleet listing