Arc Infrastructure Explained

Arc Infrastructure
Predecessor:Australian Railroad Group
Area Served:Western Australia
Key People:Murray Cook (CEO)[1]
Industry:Railway infrastructure manager
Assets:lease on 5,500 km Western Australia rail network until 2049
Parent:Brookfield Infrastructure Partners
Location City:Perth Airport
Foundation:2006

Arc Infrastructure (previously known as Brookfield Rail and WestNet Rail) is a transport infrastructure manager and access provider in Western Australia with a long-term lease on the network from the Government of Western Australia. It operates approximately 5,500 km of standard, narrow and dual gauge rail infrastructure in the southern half of the state.

History

In December 2000, the State Government privatised Westrail, with the Australian Railroad Group, a 50/50 joint venture between United States rail operator Genesee & Wyoming and Australian rural services company Wesfarmers, the successful bidder. Included in the sale was a 49-year lease on the below rail infrastructure network.[2] [3] [4] This part of the business was rebranded as WestNet Rail.[5]

On 1 June 2006, Australian Railroad Group was sold with the above rail rolling stock and terminal assets passing to QR National, and the below rail infrastructure business to Babcock & Brown Infrastructure.[6] [7] [8] Initially Babcock & Brown held a 51% shareholding, the remaining 49% being held by minority shareholders with Babcock & Brown having an option to increase its holding.[9] In March 2008 Babcock & Brown increased its shareholding to 76%.[10] It later took full ownership.

In late 2009, Babcock & Brown Infrastructure was renamed Prime Infrastructure and again by December 2010 to Brookfield Infrastructure Partners following Brookfield Asset Management's purchase of the business. In August 2011, WestNet Rail was rebranded as Brookfield Rail.[11] [12] [13]

In 2017, Brookfield Rail relocated its headquarters from Welshpool to Perth Airport.[14] In July 2017, the company was again rebranded as Arc Infrastructure.[15] [16]

Current operations

Arc Infrastructure has a lease until 2049 on of rail infrastructure throughout the southern half of Western Australia, from Geraldton in the north, to Leonora and Kalgoorlie in the east, and south to Esperance, Albany and Bunbury.[17] [18]

It is responsible for maintaining the network and granting access to operators.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Arc Infrastructure announces Murray Cook as new CEO. . 18 September 2019. Arc Infrastructure. 20 May 2020. 8 August 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200808000203/https://www.arcinfra.com/. live.
  2. "Australian Railroad Group buys Westrail freight" Railway Digest December 2000 page 23
  3. "G&W wins Westrail Freight" Railway Gazette International volume 156 issue 12 December 2000 page 788
  4. http://www.wesfarmers.com.au/about-us/company-history.html Company History
  5. "Intelligence" Railway Gazette International volume 157 issue 1 January 2001 page 12
  6. http://www.railexpress.com.au/archive/2006/Mar/30/accc-approves-qr-and-babcock-bid-for-arg ACCC approves QR and Babcock bid for ARG
  7. http://registers.accc.gov.au/content/item.phtml?itemId=751220&nodeId=ada804ffa5e4587b1994f88574348171&fn=Queensland%20Rail%20and%20Babcock%20&%20Brown's%20proposed%20acquisition%20of%20certain%20assests%20from%20Australian%20Railroad%20Group%E2%80%9417%20May%202006%E2%80%94rail.pdf Queensland Rail and Babcock & Brown's proposed acquisition of certain assets from Australian Railroad Group
  8. "Intelligence" Railway Gazette International volume 162 issue 7 July 2006 page 380
  9. "Intelligence" Railway Gazette International volume 163 issue 7 July 2007 page 334
  10. "Intelligence" Railway Gazette International volume 164 issue 5 May 2008 page 282
  11. http://www.brookfieldrail.com/about-us/our-history.html Our History
  12. http://www.au.brookfield.com/latest-news/westnet-rail-to-become-brookfield-rail Westnet Rail to become Brookfield Rail
  13. "News in Brief" Railway Gazette International volume 167 issue 9 September 2011 page 11
  14. https://thewest.com.au/business/commercial-property/brookfield-rail-signs-up-for-perth-airport-building-ng-b88351650z Brookfield Rail signs up for Perth Airport building
  15. http://www.arcinfra.com/Newsroom/We-are-now-Arc-Infrastructure We are now Arc Infrastructure
  16. http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/business/single-view/view/brookfield-rail-becomes-arc-infrastructure.html Brookfield Rail to become Arc Infrastructure
  17. http://www.brookfieldinfrastructure.com/_Global/22/img/content/BIP_FINAL%2020-F_2012.pdf Annual Report 31 December 2012
  18. http://www.erawa.com.au/cproot/10716/1/Non-urban_rail_routes_covered_by_the_WA_rail_access_regime.jpg Non-urban rail routes covered by the WA rail access regime