# Australian Transport Network

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Former freight railway operator in Australia

Australian Transport Network L Class locomotives at Picton station in September 2001 wearing the same livery as Wisconsin Central locomotives in the United States, due to the WC owning the ATN at the time. Industry Rail operator Defunct February 2004 Fate sold Successor Pacific National Parent Tranz Rail (67%) Wisconsin Central (Canadian National Railway) (33%) Divisions ATN Access Tasrail

**Australian Transport Network** (ATN) was a freight railway operator in Australia that commenced operating in November 1997. The company operated narrow gauge trains in [Tasmania](/source/Tasmania) and standard gauge trains in [New South Wales](/source/New_South_Wales) and [Victoria](/source/Victoria_(Australia)). It was formed as a joint venture with [Tranz Rail](/source/Tranz_Rail) owning 67% and [Wisconsin Central](/source/Wisconsin_Central_Ltd.) (part owner of Tranz Rail) 33%. In February 2004, ATN was sold to [Pacific National](/source/Pacific_National).[1][2][3]

## AN Tasrail

In August 1997, ATN was announced as the successful bidder for [Australian National's](/source/Australian_National_Railways_Commission) [Tasrail](/source/AN_Tasrail) operation in [Tasmania](/source/Tasmania) with the handover occurring on 1 November 1997.[4][5][6] In 1998, Tasrail purchased the [Emu Bay Railway](/source/Emu_Bay_Railway) from [Pasminco](/source/Pasminco).[7]

The president of Wisconsin Central, [Ed Burkhardt](/source/Ed_Burkhardt) dispatched Mark Rosner to Australia to take control in Tasmania. Amongst Rosner's achievements was the implementing of a new condensed Operating Rule Book, which eliminated some more complex practices in favour of vastly simplified procedures. Single car roadside freight was resumed where customers required it (discontinued under Australian National) in line with US short line practice. On sections of the main trunk line north of [Hobart](/source/Hobart), [moving block](/source/Moving_block) train spacing (5,000 metres minimum) managed over train radio replaced fixed block train order working introduced under Australian National.

ATN inherited a fleet of [Alco](/source/American_Locomotive_Company) and [English Electric](/source/English_Electric) locomotives from Australian National and [Walkers](/source/Walkers_Limited) diesel-hydraulics from Emu Bay Railway. In line with Wisconsin Central's preference for [Electro-Motive Diesel](/source/Electro-Motive_Diesel) products, 15 [DQ class](/source/New_Zealand_DQ_and_QR_class_locomotives) locomotives that had been rebuilt at [Hutt Workshops](/source/Hutt_Workshops) from 1960s built [Queensland Rail](/source/Queensland_Rail) [1460](/source/Queensland_Railways_1460_class) and [1502](/source/Queensland_Railways_1502_class) class locomotives were transferred from [Tranz Rail](/source/Tranz_Rail) in 1998/99[8][9][10][11] along with [DC4588](/source/New_Zealand_DC_class_locomotive).[12] Two rebuilt [Westrail](/source/Westrail) [D class](/source/WAGR_D_class_(diesel)) locomotives were also forwarded from Tranz Rail in August 2001.[13]

In conjunction with a new train radio system, in June 1998 the entire locomotive fleet was renumbered. At this stage 31 locomotives were operated.[14]

## ATN Access

On the mainland, ATN Access was formed to bid for freight work. In 1999 a contract was awarded by the [Australian Wheat Board](/source/AWB_Limited) to haul 300,000 tonnes of grain per annum from the [Riverina](/source/Riverina) and [Dimboola](/source/Dimboola) regions to [Port Kembla](/source/Port_Kembla%2C_New_South_Wales) and [Appleton Dock](/source/Appleton_Dock) with operations commencing in June 2000.[15][16]

ATN Access purchased seven [L class](/source/WAGR_L_class_(diesel)) locomotives from [Westrail](/source/Westrail) in July 1999 (251, 253, 254, 265, 270, 271 and 276) with four being overhauled by [National Railway Equipment Company](/source/National_Railway_Equipment_Company), [Whyalla](/source/Whyalla).[17] In June 2000, three [830 class](/source/South_Australian_Railways_830_class) (833, 838 and 845) locomotives were purchased from [Australian Southern Railroad](/source/Genesee_%26_Wyoming_Australia).[18] These were often supplemented by locomotives hired from [Chicago Freight Car Leasing Australia](/source/CFCL_Australia) and [Great Northern Rail Services](/source/Great_Northern_Rail_Services). ATN Access also imported 44 new grain wagons from China. These were constructed at the Qiqihar Railway Workshops in Northern China.[15]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** [Tasmania](http://www.pacificnational.com.au/cust_access/tasmania.asp) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20080703192850/http://www.pacificnational.com.au/cust_access/tasmania.asp) 3 July 2008 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine) Pacific National

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** [Acquirer: Pacific National Pty Ltd Target: Australian Transport Network Ltd](http://www.accc.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/529923/fromItemId/751043) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20120331161205/http://www.accc.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/529923/fromItemId/751043) 31 March 2012 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine) Australian Competition & Consumer Commission 30 March 2004

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** [Pacific National buys Tasrail](http://www.railexpress.com.au/archive/2004/Feb/26/pacific-national-buys-tasrail) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20131228235842/http://www.railexpress.com.au/archive/2004/Feb/26/pacific-national-buys-tasrail) 28 December 2013 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine) "Rail Express" 26 February 2004

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** "AN Sale: Private Owners Go From Zero to Three" *[Railway Digest](/source/Railway_Digest)* October 1997 page 8

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Three groups take on AN remains"](http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/three-groups-take-on-an-remains.html) *Railway Gazette International* 1 October 1997

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** "Australian Transport Network takes over Tasrail" *Railway Digest* December 1997 page 12

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** "Tasrail to Take Over Emu Bay Railway" *Railway Digest* April 1998 page 16

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** [DQ Class](http://www.railtasmania.com/loco/loco.php?id=dq) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20140219045538/http://railtasmania.com/loco/loco.php?id=dq) 19 February 2014 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine) Rail Tasmania

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** [QR Class](http://www.railtasmania.com/loco/loco.php?id=qr) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20140219053411/http://railtasmania.com/loco/loco.php?id=qr) 19 February 2014 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine) Rail Tasmania

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** "Tasrail's new locomotives and wagons arrive" *Railway Digest* November 1998 page 18

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** Oberg, Leon (2007). *Locomotives of Australia 1854–2007*. Rosenberg Publishing. p. 334. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-877058-54-7](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-877058-54-7).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** [DC Class](http://www.railtasmania.com/loco/loco.php?id=dc) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20140219071427/http://railtasmania.com/loco/loco.php?id=dc) 19 February 2014 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine) Rail Tasmania

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** Oberg, Leon (2007). *Locomotives of Australia 1854–2007*. Rosenberg Publishing. p. 366. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-877058-54-7](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-877058-54-7).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** "Tasrail Loco Renumbering" *Railway Digest* October 1998 page 36

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-RailDigestJul2000_15-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-RailDigestJul2000_15-1) "ATN Access Start-Up and Chinese Built XGAY Wagons Arrive" *Railway Digest* July 2000 page 16

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** ["Intelligence" *Railway Gazette International* 1 July 2000](http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/intelligence-35.html)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** Oberg, Leon (2007). *Locomotives of Australia 1854–2007*. Rosenberg Publishing. p. 347. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-877058-54-7](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-877058-54-7).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** Oberg, Leon (2007). *Locomotives of Australia 1854–2007*. Rosenberg Publishing. p. 310. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-877058-54-7](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-877058-54-7).

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Australian Transport Network](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_Transport_Network) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_Transport_Network?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.