Arc Infrastructure
 | |
 Dual gauge Eastern Railway line in July 2007 | |
| Formerly | Brookfield Rail WestNet Rail |
|---|---|
| Industry | Railway infrastructure manager |
| Predecessor | Australian Railroad Group |
| Founded | 2006 |
| Headquarters | , Australia |
Area served | Western Australia |
Key people | Stephanie Unwin (CEO) |
| Total assets | lease on 5,500 km Western Australia rail network until 2049 |
| Parent | Brookfield Infrastructure Partners |
| Website | www |
Arc Infrastructure, formerly Brookfield Rail and WestNet Rail, is a rail 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
[edit]
In December 2000, the State Government privatised Westrail, with the Australian Railroad Group, a 50/50 joint venture between Genesee & Wyoming and Wesfarmers, the successful bidder. Included in the sale was a 49-year lease on the below rail infrastructure network.[1][2][3] This part of the business was rebranded as WestNet Rail.[4]
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.[5][6][7] 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.[8] In March 2008 Babcock & Brown increased its shareholding to 76%.[9] 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.[10][11][12]
In 2017, Brookfield Rail relocated its headquarters from Welshpool to Perth Airport.[13] In July 2017, the company was again rebranded as Arc Infrastructure.[14][15][16]
In the lead-up to the 2025 state election, the Cook state government announced it would explore options to return the network to public ownership be terminating ARC Infrastructure's lease.[17] During the 2025 Australian federal election campaign, the Albanese government announced funding for a feasibility study to renationalise the network.[18]
Operations
[edit]Arc Infrastructure has a lease until 2049 on 5,500 kilometres (3,400 mi) 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.[19][20]
It is responsible for maintaining the network and granting access to operators.
References
[edit]- ^ Australian Railroad Group buys Westrail freight Railway Digest December 2000 page 23
- ^ G&W wins Westrail Freight Railway Gazette International volume 156 issue 12 December 2000 page 788
- ^ Company History Wesfarmers
- ^ Intelligence Railway Gazette International volume 157 issue 1 January 2001 page 12
- ^ ACCC approves QR and Babcock bid for ARG Rail Express 31 March 2006
- ^ Queensland Rail and Babcock & Brown's proposed acquisition of certain assets from Australian Railroad Group Australian Competition & Consumer Commission 17 May 2006
- ^ ARG sold to Queensland Rail Catch Point issue 172 March 2006 page 8
- ^ Intelligence Railway Gazette International volume 163 issue 7 July 2007 page 334
- ^ Intelligence Railway Gazette International volume 164 issue 5 May 2008 page 282
- ^ Our History Brookfield Rail
- ^ Westnet Rail to become Brookfield Rail Brookfield Australia 17 August 2011
- ^ WestNet Rail Become Brookfield Rail Motive Power issue 77 September 2011 page 27
- ^ Brookfield Rail signs up for Perth Airport building The West Australian 11 January 2017
- ^ We are now Arc Infrastructure Arc Infrastructure 11 July 2017
- ^ Brookfield Rail to become Arc Infrastructure Railway Gazette International 17 July 2017
- ^ Brookfield Rail becomes Arc Infrastructure Australasian Transport News September 2017 page 21
- ^ WA government flags plans to reverse privatisation of freight rail network ABC Midwest & Wheatbelt 23 January 2025
- ^ Anthony Albanese announces support for WA government to buy back state's freight rail network ABC News 24 April 2025
- ^ Annual Report 31 December 2012 Brookfield Infrastructure Partners
- ^ Non-urban rail routes covered by the WA rail access regime Economic Regulation Authority
