 | |
| Industry | Railway operator |
|---|---|
| Predecessor | Parent company purchased by Qube Logistics |
| Founded | 1990 |
| Founder | Lachlan Valley Railway |
| Defunct | 2012 |
| Successor | Qube Logistics |
| Headquarters | |
Area served | New South Wales |
| Parent | Bowport Allroads Transport |
| Website | www.mistrail.com |
Independent Rail of Australia was an accredited railway freight operator in New South Wales, Australia.
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]
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.
South Spur Rail Services was a Western Australian owned railway company that provides terminal operations and short haul rail services. In February 2006, it purchased Silverton Rail. In March 2007, it was sold to Coote Industrial, then in March 2010 to P&O Trans Australia, which in turn was acquired by Qube Holdings.
The Lachlan Valley Railway Society is an Australian rail preservation society based in the New South Wales Central Western town of Cowra. It was established in 1974 to preserve and operate former New South Wales Government Railways locomotives and rolling stock. It operates regular heritage train tours to a variety of locations across New South Wales.
Freight Australia was an Australian railway company that purchased the V/Line Freight business from the Government of Victoria in 1999. Initially known as Freight Victoria, it operated rail freight services and controlled non-urban rail track in the state of Victoria, later expanding into freight haulage in other states. Freight Australia was sold to Pacific National in August 2004.
Southern & Silverton Rail was an Australian rail operator founded in 1886 as the Silverton Tramway Company. The company operated the 1067 mm Silverton Tramway, conveying silver-lead-zinc concentrates 58 kilometres from Broken Hill to the South Australian border. In 1970, its main line was bypassed by the newly standardised, government-funded line from Broken Hill to Port Pirie. It then diversified to operating hook-and-pull services and in the mid-1990s rebranded to Silverton Rail. In 2006, it was purchased by South Spur Rail Services and rebranded again as Southern & Silverton Rail, before both entities were sold to Coote Industrial. In June 2010 it was sold to Qube Logistics and absorbed into that brand.
East Coast Heritage Rail is a not for profit company limited by guarantee formed in June 1985 as 3801 Limited to operate steam locomotive 3801 and its associated rolling stock. The company operated heritage train tours from 1986 until 2017, with operations recommencing in February 2019 under the new brand, East Coast Heritage Rail.
The 44 class are a class of diesel-electric locomotives built by AE Goodwin, Auburn for the New South Wales Department of Railways between 1957 and 1967.
The 45 class are a class of diesel-electric locomotives built by AE Goodwin, Auburn for the New South Wales Department of Railways between 1962 and 1964.
The 80 class are a class of diesel locomotives built by Comeng for the Public Transport Commission between 1978 and 1983.
The 442 class are a class of diesel locomotives built by AE Goodwin and Comeng, Auburn for the New South Wales Department of Railways between 1970 and 1973.
The New South Wales 42 class was a class of diesel locomotives built by Clyde Engineering, Granville for the New South Wales Department of Railways in 1955/56.
The 47 class are a class of diesel-electric locomotives built by A Goninan & Co for the Public Transport Commission in 1972–1973.
The 48 Class is a class of diesel locomotives built by AE Goodwin, Auburn for the New South Wales Department of Railways between 1959 and 1970. Once the most ubiquitous locomotive in New South Wales, Australia, It is based on Alco frames and prime movers, using General Electric electrical equipment. The South Australian Railways 830 and Silverton Rail 48s classes are of a very similar design.
The Gwabegar railway line is a railway line in the Central West and North West Slopes of New South Wales, Australia, which passes through the towns of Mudgee, Gulgong, Dunedoo, Coonabarabran and terminates at Gwabegar.
The Blayney–Demondrille railway line is a railway line in New South Wales, Australia. The line is used mainly for grain haulage and is owned by the Transport Asset Holding Entity, a government department of Transport for NSW. However, in 2004 the Australian Rail Track Corporation became responsible for operations over the line. The Lachlan Valley Railway operated heritage and tourist trains over the line, based at Cowra. It previously also operated general goods trains.
SCT Logistics is an Australian interstate transport company operating rail and road haulage, with facilities in Brisbane, Sydney, Parkes, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth.
3112 is a preserved former New South Wales Government Railways C30 class steam locomotive built in 1914 by Beyer, Peacock & Company, England.
3237 is a preserved former New South Wales Government Railways C32 class steam locomotive. Built in 1893 by Beyer, Peacock & Company, England, it is preserved by the Lachlan Valley Railway.
The Eugowra railway line is a closed railway line in New South Wales, Australia. The 80 km (50 mi) branch line joins the Blayney–Demondrille line at Cowra.
Qube Holdings is a diversified logistics and infrastructure company in Australia.
The D9 class were a class of diesel locomotives built by English Electric, Rocklea for Australian Iron & Steel's, Port Kembla steelworks between 1956 and 1960.