[Greens-Media] Tas Greens_Rail Wagons Being Scrapped on Minister's Watch_T Morris MP

[greens at parliament.tas.gov.au]

RAIL WAGONS BEING SCRAPPED

Minister Shows Little Concern Over Potential Loss of Maintaining Rolling
Stock Capacity

Tim Morris MP
Green Shadow Infrastructure Spokesperson

Wednesday, 19 November 2008
Contact: State Parliamentary Offices of the Tasmanian Greens, (03) 6233
8300

www.tas.greens.org.au


The Tasmanian Greens today revealed that some of the Pacific National
Tasmania (PNT) rail wagons are being cut up and sold for scrap after
investigating reports that a wagon was sighted partially cutup on the
back of a truck at the Simsmetal scrap yard at Bell Bay recently.

Greens Shadow Infrastructure spokesperson Tim Morris MP said that it is
concerning that potentially 130 wagons are being cut up whilst the sale
of PNT is still underway, and it is disappointing that the Minister for
Infrastructure, Graeme Sturges, failed to recognise that he does have a
responsibility to ensure that all aspects of rail capacity are
maximised.

"This government keeps trying to reassure us that they are dedicated to
ensuring Tasmania retains a working rail network, especially retaining
freight services, but what Minister Sturges fails to understand is that
the current rail wagon supply is an important part of the overall
asset," Mr Morris said.

"These rail wagons are virtually irreplaceable, and 130 of them is the
equivalent of two trains."

"It is a fair expectation that as Minister, Mr Sturges would have an
active interest in the state and condition of rail wagons available in
either a working or as a stockpile capacity, and be aware that its
availability will play a part in reassuring a new rail operator that
they will be able to operate and maintain the rolling stock."

 "Minister Sturges is currently predicting that the rail freight task
will increase, but at the same time he is shrugging his shoulders over
concerns that rail capacity is decreasing."

"Talk about mixed messages that could potentially be dragging Tasmania
in the wrong direction when it comes to securing a viable freight rail
system."

"The Minister should be proactive about keeping an eye on the current
state of the rail capacity, and despite it being likely that these
wagons have not been in service for some time they could potentially be
restored or used for spare parts to keep other stock operational for as
long as possible," Mr Morris said.




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