Smooth operator
In late 2019, Watco Australia will commence operations in Queensland under a seven-year contract with GrainCorp. Eight locomotives from the National Railway Equipment Company and 128 wagons from China have been ordered. Watco has already established a major presence in grain haulage and provision of certain other rail services in Western Australia. Following privatisation, these were more or less the provence of Aurizon (ex. Queensland Rail) but over time, it has lost a lot of traffic tending to fall back to its now stated core business of minerals and associated industrial freight. The same has happened in Queensland where significant but often seasonal traffic has been lost or exited including sugar, North Coast intermodal (except on contract to Fox Logistics), grain, molasses, cotton etc.. Competitor Pacific National has tended to cherry pick some odds and sods (sugar) leaving most other traffic in limbo or lost to road. Aurizon however has just won the latest Qld. Government contract to continue cattle haulage for the next contract period. However, they have lost the grain contract with GrainCorp which has been awarded to Watco. This is a win for Queensland freight as there is a good chance that Watco will continue to expand and win marginal, lost and even new rail traffic. It has bought eight new locomotives, as depicted in this shot from the USA as well as repatriating a batch of ex. QR locomotives from South Africa. Watco is already operating under the new grain contract in Queensland.
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watco_Australia
“ A license to love, insurance to hold
Melts all your memories and change into gold
His eyes are like angels but his heart is cold
No need to ask, he's a smooth operator…”
(From Smooth Operator by Sade courtesy of LyricFind.)
Let’s hope so!
This photo of the new Watco WRA class (004 and two sisters) is at Brisbane’s Fisherman Island port facility with a further two locos out of shot waiting to be towed to Warwick where Watco have set up their base and reinvigorated a former railway precinct.
The Watco Australia WRA Class is an Australian diesel-electric locomotive, constructed by the National Railway Equipment Company in the United States for use on Watco Australia's upcoming grain services in Queensland.
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watco_Australia_WRA_Class
Smooth operator
In late 2019, Watco Australia will commence operations in Queensland under a seven-year contract with GrainCorp. Eight locomotives from the National Railway Equipment Company and 128 wagons from China have been ordered. Watco has already established a major presence in grain haulage and provision of certain other rail services in Western Australia. Following privatisation, these were more or less the provence of Aurizon (ex. Queensland Rail) but over time, it has lost a lot of traffic tending to fall back to its now stated core business of minerals and associated industrial freight. The same has happened in Queensland where significant but often seasonal traffic has been lost or exited including sugar, North Coast intermodal (except on contract to Fox Logistics), grain, molasses, cotton etc.. Competitor Pacific National has tended to cherry pick some odds and sods (sugar) leaving most other traffic in limbo or lost to road. Aurizon however has just won the latest Qld. Government contract to continue cattle haulage for the next contract period. However, they have lost the grain contract with GrainCorp which has been awarded to Watco. This is a win for Queensland freight as there is a good chance that Watco will continue to expand and win marginal, lost and even new rail traffic. It has bought eight new locomotives, as depicted in this shot from the USA as well as repatriating a batch of ex. QR locomotives from South Africa. Watco is already operating under the new grain contract in Queensland.
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watco_Australia
“ A license to love, insurance to hold
Melts all your memories and change into gold
His eyes are like angels but his heart is cold
No need to ask, he's a smooth operator…”
(From Smooth Operator by Sade courtesy of LyricFind.)
Let’s hope so!
This photo of the new Watco WRA class (004 and two sisters) is at Brisbane’s Fisherman Island port facility with a further two locos out of shot waiting to be towed to Warwick where Watco have set up their base and reinvigorated a former railway precinct.
The Watco Australia WRA Class is an Australian diesel-electric locomotive, constructed by the National Railway Equipment Company in the United States for use on Watco Australia's upcoming grain services in Queensland.
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watco_Australia_WRA_Class