Australian Railroad Group
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.JPG)
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| Industry | Railway operator |
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| Successor | QR National |
| Founded | 17 December 2000 |
| Defunct | 30 June 2011 |
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Area served
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Western Australia |
| Parent | Aurizon |
| Website | www.arg.net.au |
Australian Railroad Group (ARG) was an Australian rail freight operator. It began operations in Western Australia on 17 December 2000 following its purchase of the Westrail freight business. It was purchased by QR National in June 2006. The main commodities hauled by ARG included grain, mineral sands, alumina, bauxite, coal, woodchips, quartz, nickel and iron ore around Western Australia. In June 2011 it ceased trading as a separate brand, and became part of QR National.
In 2000 the Australian Railroad Group was formed as a 50/50 joint venture between United States rail operator Genesee & Wyoming Inc and Australian rural services company Wesfarmers, to bid for the freight operator Westrail which was being sold by the Western Australian state government. Genessee & Wyoming already had an Australian presence, having purchased the South Australian freight operations of Australian National in November 1997 and rebranded the operation Australia Southern Railroad.
In October 2000 Australian Railroad Group were announced as the successful bidder for Westrail with operations commencing on 17 December 2000. Under the deal 95 locomotives, 2,500 wagons, freight terminals and customer contracts were purchased with the infrastructure remaining in government ownership, and leased to ARG for 49 years.
As part of the deal, the joint venture assumed ownership of Genesee & Wyoming's South Australian operation, Australian Southern Railroad.
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Wikipedia