896:
165:
591:
711:
966:
629:
857:
782:
199:
931:
180:
29:
481:
Australia infrastructure lease to
Pacific National. Very little of the freight that FA hauled remains with PN, most of it going to road with a small amount going to other rail operators. Contracts lost to other operators include the Berrima Cement service (QUBE), the Deniliquin Rice (QUBE), the Maryvale Paper (QUBE) Allied Mills and Emerald Grain (SSR) and the Apex Quarry service (QUBE).
480:
In March 2004, RailAmerica announced it had agreed terms with
Pacific National to sell the business subject to government and regulatory approval. In July 2004, the ACCC announced it would not oppose the acquisition, and in August 2004, the Victorian Government approved the transfer of the Freight
229:, V/Line was split into two separate entities on 1 July 1997: V/Line Passenger and V/Line Freight, with separate management to each other in preparation for privatisation. When V/Line was privatised in 1999, the passenger and freight divisions were sold separately.
531:
that if
Freight Australia was acquired by a competitor of CRT Group, 10,000 hp (7,500 kW) of locomotive power (calculated by the business CRT Group was offering Freight Australia) was to be transferred to them, two
1363:
375:
In March 2000, the company was renamed
Freight Australia. In April 2000, Freight Australia began hauling export grain from southern New South Wales to Melbourne and Port Kembla. In October 2000, it commenced hauling
919:
2 now preserved with SRHC, 1 scrapped in 2016, 5 more scrapped in 2019. 2 were sold to SCT Logistics in 2018. 2 remain in service with
Pacific National, and three are stored.
512:
which was built new in 2002 to replace two written off G class locomotives. Additional rollingstock was also acquired, including new 100 tonne capacity grain hoppers built by
1564:
1279:
767:
Ordered by V/line in 1995, only one ever produced, used to haul log trains between
Bairnsdale and Sale from 1999 to 2000, later placed into storage at South Dynon.
1504:
500:
With traffic growing
Freight Victoria decided to replace the prime movers in number of the G class, increasing the power output to 3,800 hp. The older
1348:
1675:
360:
Freight
Victoria soon begun gaining contracts outside Victoria, taking advantage of open access regimes. In October 1999, it began hauling logs from
489:
Included in the purchase of V/Line
Freight were 107 diesel locomotives and more than 2,800 freight wagons, which had been owned and operated by the
1655:
1351:
458:
1391:
289:
intrastate track in regional
Victoria. A green and yellow livery was adopted for rolling stock. The company commenced operations on 1 May 1999.
1670:
1096:
353:. Grain trains also operated throughout the state as required. Freight Victoria also operated standard gauge trains in Victoria to Wodonga and
1056:
1574:
1294:
895:
1685:
1497:
1680:
1589:
1579:
1569:
1036:
1660:
1609:
1544:
1490:
1319:
1614:
1529:
959:
889:
775:
672:
612:
537:
501:
465:
would create a rail and freight monopoly if it won control of the operator. At the time, other potential buyers included
168:
33:
1113:
590:
540:
class locomotives were transferred to CRT Group. The balance of the fleet was included in the sale to Pacific National.
803:
738:
710:
191:
1634:
1186:
770:
Continued to be stored by PN in South Dynon until 2011, when it was sold to maintenance company Just Track.
1559:
1549:
1097:
Railamerica Wins In Australia – Freight Victoria consortium led by RailAmerica Inc. acquires V/Line Freight
421:
365:
270:
247:
219:
214:
137:
965:
856:
781:
628:
504:
diesels also saw a more extensive power upgrade program, being stripped to the frame and rebuilt as the
1513:
1377:
924:
817:
732:
505:
1584:
1482:
1399:
466:
930:
1240:
517:
445:
435:
410:
988:
None remain in service with PN. All have been sold to Ettamogah Rail Hub, scrapped or are stored.
877:
Built new in 2002 to replace two G classes that were destroyed in a collision at Ararat in 1999.
243:
242:
The company was formed in March 1999 when the Freight Victoria consortium was announced by the
226:
141:
850:
657:
509:
269:
The sale included 107 locomotives and more than 2,800 freight wagons, maintenance centres at
183:
1665:
1619:
664:
in March 2007, later sold again to various operators. The remaining 22 are in service with
164:
8:
149:
101:
1392:"First grain wagons roll – Alstom Australia delivers railroad cars to Freight Australia"
148:, it operated rail freight services and controlled non-urban rail track in the state of
1624:
1599:
1534:
881:
880:
After spending long periods of time stored in Port Augusta, it was sold in May 2021 to
490:
474:
278:
493:
and their successors. The newest and most powerful locomotives were the 3,300 hp
152:, later expanding into freight haulage in other states. Freight Australia was sold to
1331:
1323:
951:
Rebuilt from X class. Renumbering began in 2003. XR555 completed under PN ownership.
1604:
1524:
954:
Three more built from scratch in 2006, all remain in service with Pacific National
746:
665:
462:
153:
73:
1037:
RailAmerica Backed Freight Victoria Consortium Wins Australian V/Line Freight Bid
470:
259:
206:
121:
97:
841:
One remains in service with PN, as a shunting unit. One has been preserved with
1554:
1078:
842:
809:
704:
697:
622:
584:
533:
494:
392:
285:, as well as a 45-year lease (in renewable 15-year leases) on 4,756 km of
202:
187:
108:
1649:
1327:
1040:
661:
425:
396:
377:
198:
37:
1445:
1422:
1335:
1158:
1117:
497:
delivered from 1984, but other locomotives dated as far back as the 1950s.
306:
255:
223:
117:
1100:
812:, one stored in Port Augusta. Remaining example was sold to SRHC in 2010
521:
369:
346:
286:
251:
179:
125:
28:
361:
338:
318:
1512:
617:
All withdrawn from service by May 2014. All bar one scrapped in 2019.
1366:
Office of the Treasurer, Minister for Public Transport 16 August 2004
528:
429:
322:
298:
172:
84:
845:, every other unit has been sold to Ettamogah Rail Hub or scrapped.
808:
3 still owned by PN, with one stored in Newport, one preserved with
222:
formerly had a freight division, known as V/Line Freight. Under the
1314:
524:, and the conversion of surplus vans into log and container flats.
417:
404:
354:
314:
263:
113:
1594:
1298:
1060:
653:
350:
342:
326:
310:
302:
297:
Regular broad gauge trains in Victoria carried logs sourced from
282:
274:
1629:
696:
One scrapped, 4 sold to Ettamogah Rail Hub with 2 preserved by
513:
334:
737:
4 sold to Ettamogah Rail Hub. Two of those are preserved with
434:
Friskies: grain transported to a pet food processing plant in
1565:
Melbourne, Mount Alexander & Murray River Railway Company
400:
381:
330:
1467:
Peter Attenborough (February 2006). "Colin Rees Transport".
457:
In October 2003, Freight Australia was put up for sale. The
741:. Remaining example stored in Newport under PN ownership
1364:
Rail Set to Grow With Freight Australia Transfer Agreed
1010:
1008:
1006:
1004:
409:
Domestic grain: from throughout NSW to Weston Milling,
508:. The company only purchased a single new locomotive,
1032:
1030:
1015:
Peter Attenborough (June 2004). "Freight Australia".
136:
was an Australian railway company that purchased the
1001:
441:
Logs: spasmodic traffic from Canberra to Port Kembla
1253:Freight Australia Takes Over SCT Services to Perth
1514:Former Victorian railway companies and authorities
1466:
1398:. findarticles.com. September 2001. Archived from
1027:
1014:
1092:
1090:
1088:
527:To fulfill a contractual condition with customer
1647:
1605:Rosstown Junction Railway & Property Company
1352:Australian Competition & Consumer Commission
1349:ACCC not to oppose Freight Australia acquisition
459:Australian Competition & Consumer Commission
1378:Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin
1212:Freight Australia – Grain haulage intensifies
1085:
1052:
1050:
1498:
1072:
1070:
246:as the successful bidder for the state owned
1575:Melbourne & Hobson's Bay Railway Company
1443:
1420:
1266:Freight Australia wins new business in NSW
1076:"Freight Victoria Bid Wins V/Line Freight"
1057:Rail giants to battle for Freight Australia
1047:
649:2 scrapped following 1999 Ararat collision
1505:
1491:
1322:Victoria Division. May 2004. p. 140.
1067:
27:
1238:Freight Australia Takes Over SCT Haulage
309:, as well as general freight to and from
1676:Railway companies disestablished in 2004
1580:Melbourne & Suburban Railway Company
1570:Melbourne & Essendon Railway Company
461:(ACCC) looked at the sale, fearing that
197:
178:
163:
1610:St Kilda & Brighton Railway Company
1545:Geelong & Melbourne Railway Company
1295:Alarm on bid for Victorian Rail Freight
387:Further interstate contracts followed:
1656:Defunct railway companies of Australia
1648:
1530:Deniliquin & Moama Railway Company
250:business. The consortium consisted of
1671:Railway companies established in 1999
1486:
1130:"Freight Victoria's NSW Log Traffic"
1280:Freight Australia wins NSW grain job
1686:2004 disestablishments in Australia
13:
884:and has been returned to service.
16:Former Australian railway operator
14:
1697:
1469:Australian Model Railway Magazine
1318:. Vol. 32, no. 5. Vic:
1017:Australian Model Railway Magazine
520:, second-hand grain hoppers from
1681:1999 establishments in Australia
1225:Freight Australia reaches Cowra
964:
929:
894:
855:
780:
709:
627:
589:
1460:
1446:"VFTX – Log Traffic Flat Wagon"
1437:
1414:
1384:
1369:
1357:
1342:
1305:
1288:
1273:
1260:
1247:
1232:
1219:
1206:
1199:New South Wales Grain Contract
1193:
1184:Freight Victoria goes national
1178:
1165:
1114:RailAmerica buys V/Line Freight
957:
922:
887:
804:Seymour Railway Heritage Centre
773:
744:
620:
582:
438:, from the central-west of NSW.
1590:Metropolitan Transit Authority
1244:issue 140 November 2000 page 5
1187:Truck & Bus Transportation
1150:
1137:
1124:
1107:
543:
1:
994:
159:
1661:Interstate rail in Australia
1550:Great Northern Rail Services
1381:issue 764 June 2001 page 225
292:
237:
215:Public Transport Corporation
144:in 1999. Initially known as
7:
1423:"VHBF – Grain Hopper wagon"
1203:issue 10 April 2000 page 31
1162:issue 10 April 2000 page 31
575:Fate following PN takeover
416:Export grain: from the NSW
380:services from Melbourne to
10:
1702:
1312:"Freight Australia Sold".
368:and in December 1999 from
244:Victorian State Government
232:
212:
1615:State Transport Authority
1585:Melbourne Railway Company
1520:
579:
467:Australian Railroad Group
452:
107:
91:
79:
69:
61:
53:
45:
26:
1560:Kerang–Koondrook Tramway
518:Ballarat North Workshops
484:
1156:Corporate Name Change
916:6 rebuilt as XR class
301:, paper products from
210:
195:
176:
142:Government of Victoria
1257:November 2000 page 11
1134:December 1999 page 15
201:
182:
167:
1620:Tyers Valley Tramway
1270:November 2002 page 6
1147:January 2000 page 38
473:, and merchant bank
1229:August 2000 page 34
1143:Wang Logs Commence
475:Babcock & Brown
190:locomotives in the
23:
1635:West Coast Railway
1625:Victorian Railways
1600:Powelltown Tramway
1190:April 2000 page 50
1175:April 2000 page 39
882:One Rail Australia
491:Victorian Railways
264:A Goninan & Co
211:
196:
177:
140:business from the
114:A Goninan & Co
21:
1643:
1642:
1540:Freight Australia
1444:Peter J Vincent.
1421:Peter J Vincent.
1396:Asia Pacific Rail
1375:Here & There
1216:June 2000 page 33
1082:March 1999 page 9
992:
991:
563:Top speed (km/h)
134:Freight Australia
131:
130:
22:Freight Australia
1693:
1525:Connex Melbourne
1507:
1500:
1493:
1484:
1483:
1477:
1476:
1464:
1458:
1457:
1455:
1453:
1441:
1435:
1434:
1432:
1430:
1418:
1412:
1411:
1409:
1407:
1388:
1382:
1373:
1367:
1361:
1355:
1346:
1340:
1339:
1309:
1303:
1292:
1286:
1277:
1271:
1264:
1258:
1251:
1245:
1236:
1230:
1223:
1217:
1210:
1204:
1197:
1191:
1182:
1176:
1169:
1163:
1154:
1148:
1141:
1135:
1128:
1122:
1111:
1105:
1094:
1083:
1074:
1065:
1054:
1045:
1044:22 February 1999
1034:
1025:
1024:
1012:
974:Broad, Standard
971:Diesel-electric
968:
939:Broad, Standard
936:Diesel-electric
933:
904:Broad, Standard
901:Diesel-electric
898:
862:Diesel-electric
859:
827:Broad, Standard
824:Diesel-electric
802:One leased from
787:Diesel-electric
784:
756:Broad, Standard
753:Diesel-electric
716:Diesel-electric
713:
679:Diesel-electric
666:Pacific National
656:, later sold to
637:Broad, Standard
634:Diesel-electric
631:
596:Diesel-electric
593:
548:
547:
463:Pacific National
227:State Government
156:in August 2004.
154:Pacific National
146:Freight Victoria
74:Pacific National
49:Railway operator
31:
24:
20:
1701:
1700:
1696:
1695:
1694:
1692:
1691:
1690:
1646:
1645:
1644:
1639:
1516:
1511:
1481:
1480:
1465:
1461:
1451:
1449:
1442:
1438:
1428:
1426:
1419:
1415:
1405:
1403:
1402:on 29 June 2006
1390:
1389:
1385:
1374:
1370:
1362:
1358:
1347:
1343:
1311:
1310:
1306:
1302:8 December 2003
1293:
1289:
1285:22 October 2002
1278:
1274:
1265:
1261:
1252:
1248:
1237:
1233:
1224:
1220:
1211:
1207:
1198:
1194:
1183:
1179:
1170:
1166:
1155:
1151:
1142:
1138:
1129:
1125:
1112:
1108:
1095:
1086:
1075:
1068:
1064:1 November 2003
1055:
1048:
1035:
1028:
1013:
1002:
997:
658:Linx Cargo Care
546:
487:
471:Queensland Rail
455:
391:Fuel: from the
295:
240:
235:
217:
207:North Melbourne
194:in January 2006
162:
124:
120:
116:
100:
98:New South Wales
94:
87:
41:
40:in January 2006
17:
12:
11:
5:
1699:
1689:
1688:
1683:
1678:
1673:
1668:
1663:
1658:
1641:
1640:
1638:
1637:
1632:
1630:V/Line Freight
1627:
1622:
1617:
1612:
1607:
1602:
1597:
1592:
1587:
1582:
1577:
1572:
1567:
1562:
1557:
1555:Hoys Roadlines
1552:
1547:
1542:
1537:
1532:
1527:
1521:
1518:
1517:
1510:
1509:
1502:
1495:
1487:
1479:
1478:
1459:
1436:
1413:
1383:
1368:
1356:
1341:
1304:
1287:
1272:
1268:Railway Digest
1259:
1255:Railway Digest
1246:
1231:
1227:Railway Digest
1218:
1214:Railway Digest
1205:
1192:
1177:
1173:Railway Digest
1164:
1149:
1145:Railway Digest
1136:
1132:Railway Digest
1123:
1106:
1084:
1079:Railway Digest
1066:
1046:
1026:
999:
998:
996:
993:
990:
989:
986:
984:
981:
978:
975:
972:
969:
962:
956:
955:
952:
949:
946:
943:
940:
937:
934:
927:
921:
920:
917:
914:
911:
908:
905:
902:
899:
892:
886:
885:
878:
875:
872:
869:
866:
863:
860:
853:
847:
846:
843:707 Operations
839:
837:
834:
831:
828:
825:
822:
820:
814:
813:
810:707 Operations
806:
800:
797:
794:
791:
788:
785:
778:
772:
771:
768:
765:
762:
759:
757:
754:
751:
749:
743:
742:
735:
729:
726:
723:
720:
717:
714:
707:
701:
700:
698:707 Operations
694:
692:
689:
686:
683:
680:
677:
675:
669:
668:
650:
647:
644:
641:
638:
635:
632:
625:
619:
618:
615:
609:
606:
603:
600:
597:
594:
587:
581:
580:
577:
576:
573:
570:
567:
564:
561:
558:
555:
552:
545:
542:
486:
483:
454:
451:
450:
449:
442:
439:
432:
414:
407:
393:Clyde Refinery
305:, gravel from
294:
291:
260:Macquarie Bank
248:V/Line Freight
239:
236:
234:
231:
161:
158:
138:V/Line Freight
129:
128:
122:Macquarie Bank
111:
105:
104:
95:
92:
89:
88:
83:
81:
77:
76:
71:
67:
66:
65:16 August 2004
63:
59:
58:
55:
51:
50:
47:
43:
42:
32:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1698:
1687:
1684:
1682:
1679:
1677:
1674:
1672:
1669:
1667:
1664:
1662:
1659:
1657:
1654:
1653:
1651:
1636:
1633:
1631:
1628:
1626:
1623:
1621:
1618:
1616:
1613:
1611:
1608:
1606:
1603:
1601:
1598:
1596:
1593:
1591:
1588:
1586:
1583:
1581:
1578:
1576:
1573:
1571:
1568:
1566:
1563:
1561:
1558:
1556:
1553:
1551:
1548:
1546:
1543:
1541:
1538:
1536:
1533:
1531:
1528:
1526:
1523:
1522:
1519:
1515:
1508:
1503:
1501:
1496:
1494:
1489:
1488:
1485:
1474:
1470:
1463:
1447:
1440:
1424:
1417:
1401:
1397:
1393:
1387:
1380:
1379:
1372:
1365:
1360:
1353:
1350:
1345:
1337:
1333:
1329:
1325:
1321:
1317:
1316:
1308:
1301:
1300:
1296:
1291:
1284:
1281:
1276:
1269:
1263:
1256:
1250:
1243:
1242:
1235:
1228:
1222:
1215:
1209:
1202:
1196:
1189:
1188:
1181:
1174:
1168:
1161:
1160:
1153:
1146:
1140:
1133:
1127:
1120:
1119:
1115:
1110:
1103:
1102:
1098:
1093:
1091:
1089:
1081:
1080:
1073:
1071:
1063:
1062:
1058:
1053:
1051:
1043:
1042:
1041:Business Wire
1038:
1033:
1031:
1022:
1018:
1011:
1009:
1007:
1005:
1000:
987:
985:
982:
979:
976:
973:
970:
967:
963:
961:
958:
953:
950:
947:
944:
941:
938:
935:
932:
928:
926:
923:
918:
915:
912:
909:
906:
903:
900:
897:
893:
891:
888:
883:
879:
876:
873:
870:
867:
864:
861:
858:
854:
852:
849:
848:
844:
840:
838:
835:
832:
829:
826:
823:
821:
819:
816:
815:
811:
807:
805:
801:
798:
795:
792:
789:
786:
783:
779:
777:
774:
769:
766:
763:
760:
758:
755:
752:
750:
748:
745:
740:
736:
734:
730:
727:
724:
721:
718:
715:
712:
708:
706:
703:
702:
699:
695:
693:
690:
687:
684:
681:
678:
676:
674:
671:
670:
667:
663:
662:SCT Logistics
659:
655:
651:
648:
645:
642:
639:
636:
633:
630:
626:
624:
621:
616:
614:
610:
607:
604:
601:
598:
595:
592:
588:
586:
583:
578:
574:
571:
568:
565:
562:
559:
556:
553:
550:
549:
541:
539:
535:
530:
525:
523:
519:
515:
511:
507:
503:
498:
496:
492:
482:
478:
476:
472:
468:
464:
460:
447:
443:
440:
437:
433:
431:
427:
426:Appleton Dock
423:
419:
415:
412:
408:
406:
402:
398:
397:West Tamworth
394:
390:
389:
388:
385:
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379:
378:SCT Logistics
373:
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209:in April 2010
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175:in April 2007
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52:
48:
44:
39:
38:North Geelong
35:
30:
25:
19:
1539:
1472:
1468:
1462:
1450:. Retrieved
1448:. pjv101.net
1439:
1427:. Retrieved
1425:. pjv101.net
1416:
1404:. Retrieved
1400:the original
1395:
1386:
1376:
1371:
1359:
1344:
1313:
1307:
1297:
1290:
1283:Rail Express
1282:
1275:
1267:
1262:
1254:
1249:
1239:
1234:
1226:
1221:
1213:
1208:
1201:Motive Power
1200:
1195:
1185:
1180:
1172:
1171:New Colours
1167:
1159:Motive Power
1157:
1152:
1144:
1139:
1131:
1126:
1121:7 April 1999
1118:The Guardian
1116:
1109:
1099:
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1016:
660:. 9 sold to
526:
499:
488:
479:
456:
448:to Melbourne
420:district to
386:
374:
359:
307:Kilmore East
296:
268:
256:Fluor Daniel
241:
218:
145:
133:
132:
118:Fluor Daniel
80:Headquarters
18:
1666:RailAmerica
1354:2 July 2004
1241:Catch Point
1101:Railway Age
1023:(9): 24–27.
654:QR National
544:Fleet Table
522:FreightCorp
422:Port Kembla
370:Wallerawang
366:Port Kembla
347:Warrnambool
287:broad gauge
271:South Dynon
252:RailAmerica
192:Swan Valley
126:RailAmerica
93:Area served
1650:Categories
1595:M>Train
1475:(256): 37.
1452:23 October
1429:23 October
1406:23 October
1104:March 1999
995:References
945:1999–2006
652:2 sold to
362:Queanbeyan
339:Deniliquin
319:Shepparton
213:See also:
160:Background
57:1 May 1999
1328:0310-7477
865:Standard
529:CRT Group
430:Melbourne
413:from 2002
323:Swan Hill
299:Gippsland
293:Expansion
238:Inception
173:Grovedale
85:Melbourne
70:Successor
1535:El Zorro
1336:19676396
1315:Newsrail
980:1963–68
910:1966–76
833:1955–68
796:1957–61
731:Rebuilt
725:1984–85
643:1984–89
611:Rebuilt
605:1984–85
536:and two
506:XR class
444:Cement:
418:Riverina
405:Canberra
355:Dimboola
315:Tocumwal
303:Maryvale
279:Portland
150:Victoria
102:Victoria
46:Industry
1299:The Age
1061:The Age
733:T class
613:B class
569:Number
516:at the
502:X class
495:G class
446:Berrima
436:Blayney
411:Enfield
351:Geelong
343:Mildura
327:Bendigo
311:Wodonga
283:Wodonga
275:Geelong
233:History
224:Kennett
203:P class
188:G class
169:X class
62:Defunct
54:Founded
34:S class
1334:
1326:
790:Broad
719:Broad
682:Broad
599:Broad
572:Notes
566:Built
560:Gauge
554:Image
551:Class
514:Alstom
453:Demise
403:, and
335:Echuca
220:V/Line
186:and 2
109:Parent
871:2002
761:1995
688:1968
557:Type
485:Fleet
424:, or
401:Dubbo
382:Perth
331:Boort
1454:2008
1431:2008
1408:2008
1332:OCLC
1324:ISSN
1320:ARHS
942:115
907:115
868:115
830:100
793:115
739:SRHC
722:100
685:100
640:115
602:115
510:V544
349:and
281:and
262:and
184:V544
983:20
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913:24
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395:to
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