Pacific National Pty Ltd

Pacific National freight train passing throughVirginia, South Australia in November 2024
Company type	Private
Industry	Rail transport
Predecessor	FreightCorp National Rail
Founded	February 2002
Headquarters	Sydney , Australia
Area served	Mainland Australia
Services	Rail haulage services
Revenue	A$2,378 million (June 2017)
Operating income	A$443 million (June 2017)
Net income	A$260 million (June 2017)
Total assets	A$5,220 million (June 2017) 596 locomotives and 12,875 wagons (June 2012)
Total equity	A$1,274 million (June 2017)
Owner	Global Infrastructure Partners,CPP Investment Board,China Investment Corporation,GIC Private Limited andBritish Columbia Investment Management Corporation
Number of employees	approx. 4,000
Divisions	Bulk, Coal, Intermodal and Steel
Website	www.pacificnational.com.au

Pacific National is Australia's largest private rail freight operator. It was formed in 2002, and is operated by the consortium Australian Logistics Acquisition Investments Pty Ltd. It was previously operated byToll Holdings before 2016 and Toll andPatrick Corporation before 2005. The rail operator was formed as an amalgamation ofFreightCorp andNational Rail's freight operations, and later acquiredAustralian Transport Network. Pacific National has since sold off some of its assets to national and other private operators. It operates services in all mainlandAustralian states and territories. As of June 2012^[update], the company operates 596locomotives and 12,875wagons.

In February 2002, National Rail's freight operations and rollingstock, jointly owned by theFederal,New South Wales andVictorian Governments, were combined with FreightCorp, owned by the New South Wales Government,^[1] and sold to ajoint venture between Patrick Corporation and Toll Holdings, trading as Pacific National.^[2]

In February 2004, Pacific National purchased Australian Transport Network, operator of ATN Access andAN Tasrail.^[3][4] In August 2004, Pacific National purchasedFreight Australia, giving Pacific National control of the Victorian non-urban rail track, excluding the interstate network which is controlled by theAustralian Rail Track Corporation.^[5]

TheAustralian Competition and Consumer Commission attached special conditions to the sale to ensure competition in the rail freight industry.^[6] The company was required to provide a "starter pack" of locomotives, wagons, train paths, and freight terminals for a third party rail operator on the east-west route across theNullarbor Plain. To fulfil that, Pacific National sold nine refurbishedG class locomotives to competitorSCT Logistics to allow it to operate its own services.^{[7][dead link]}

In 2005,Toll Holdings launched a successful hostile takeover of its joint venture partnerPatrick Corporation, giving Toll Holdings 100% ownership of Pacific National.^[8] In 2007, Toll Holdings was restructured into two separatelyASX listed companies: Toll Holdings andAsciano Limited. As part of this restructure, Pacific National became a wholly owned subsidiary of Asciano Limited.^[9]

In 2016, Asciano agreed to sell Pacific National to Australian Logistics Acquisition Investments Pty Ltd, a consortium ofGlobal Infrastructure Partners,CPP Investment Board,China Investment Corporation,GIC Private Limited andBritish Columbia Investment Management Corporation.^[10] The transfer was completed on 19 August 2016.^[11]

In March 2005, Pacific National Queensland became the first non-Queensland Railnarrow gauge commercial rail operation in Queensland, with the commencement of container services betweenBrisbane andCairns.^[12][13]

In 2009, Pacific National Queensland further expanded its narrow gauge operations, entering the export coal market, then dominated by incumbent Queensland Rail.^[14]

In September 2005, Pacific National angered theTasmanian State andAustralian Federal Governments when it threatened to withdraw all services unless the governments paid a $100 million subsidy.^[15] Initially the governments refused to act on the issue claiming they would not be "held to mercy" by Pacific National, owned byToll andPatrick Corporation, "which are extremely profitable multi-national companies". However, state infrastructure ministerBryan Green and federal counterpart transport ministerWarren Truss announced a $120 million rescue package.^[16]

In May 2007, the Tasmanian Government, the Federal Government and Pacific National came to an agreement regarding the funding, ownership and operation of the Tasmanian railway network; with the Tasmanian Government acquiring the railway infrastructure previously leased to Pacific National, who would continue to provide above rail services on the network.^[17] In September 2009, the Tasmanian Government purchased the Tasmanian rail business, with rail infrastructure and railway operations to be maintained, managed and owned by a newTasRail.^[18]

In November 2006, Pacific National entered into an agreement to sell the remainder of its Victorian rail lease of the network back to the Victorian Government.^[19] The sale was completed in May 2007, with the government-ownedV/Line taking over management of the track.^[20]

In December 2007, Pacific National announced plans to sell or close its grain transport and Portlink rural container business operations in Victoria, selling or closing Patrick's intermodal freight business in Tasmania, and downsizing to a bare minimum Pacific National's grain operations across New South Wales.^[21] The decision was criticised as it forced grain growers to use higher cost road transport to transport the annual grain harvest from rural silos to the ports.^[22] The decision has saw many commentators^{[weasel words]} accuse Pacific National of acquiring the operations ofFreight Australia in 2004 only for the purposes ofasset stripping and eliminating competition in rail freight.^[23]

In 2008, the company declined to sell wagons which had reached the end of their useful life to other Australian rail operators, indicating that the wagons would be scrapped or exported toSaudi Arabia.^[24]

The container freight service toHorsham,Victoria was almost cancelled in April 2008 but was given a three-month reprieve by the company.^[25][26] In July 2008, the service was taken over byQR National and later Qube.^[27]

Pacific National is Australia's largest private rail freight operator.^[28] Pacific National operates in all mainland states and territories.^{[citation needed]} As of June 2012^[update],^{[needs update]} the company operates 596 locomotives and 12,875 wagons.^[29][30] Services include bulk freight (coal,grain,steel, ore),intermodal containers (domestic and import-export), and specialised services such as 'hook and pull' for long-distance passenger trains.

The Pacific National steel contract was renewed withBlueScope andOneSteel in 2006 for $1bn, making it the largest ever freight rail contract in Australia. The deal involves haulage of about 3 million tonnes of steel over seven years.^[31] Pacific National hasintermodal freight facilities at the Brisbane Freight Terminal in Queensland, theMelbourne Freight Terminal in Victoria, the Sydney Freight Terminal in New South Wales, the Adelaide Freight Terminal in South Australia and theKewdale Freight Terminal in Western Australia.

This sectionneeds additional citations forverification. Please helpimprove this article byadding citations to reliable sources in this section. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Pacific National" – news ·newspapers ·books ·scholar ·JSTOR(November 2025) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

Class	Image	Type	Gauge	Top speed (km/h)	Built	Number	Notes
Rural and Bulk Division
48 class		Diesel-electric	Standard	115	1959–1970	48	Ex-FreightCorp: 16 in service
80 class		Diesel-electric	Standard	115	1979–1983	22	13 stored, 5 scrapped, 4 operational
81 class		Diesel-electric	Standard	115	1982–1991	83	Ex-FreightCorp: 83 in service; 8108, 8117 & 8121 allocated to Intermodal
82 class		Diesel-electric	Standard	115	1994–1995	54	Ex-FreightCorp
BL class		Diesel-electric	Standard,Broad	115	1983–1984	10	Ex-National Rail Corporation: 9 in service, 1 stored
G class		Diesel-electric	Broad,Standard	115	1985–1989	20	Ex-National Rail Corporation andFreight Australia: 9 sold toSCT Logistics in 2007. G526, G530, G537, G538 & G542 allocated to intermodal
PL class		Diesel-electric	Standard	115	1999–2001	7	Ex-FreightCorp: PL2-PL7 scrapped, PL1 in service as Port Augusta shunter
T class		Diesel-electric	Broad,Standard	100	1964–1968	1	Ex-Freight Australia: T471 in service as North Geelong shunter
X class		Diesel-electric	Broad,Standard	115	1966–1976	6	Ex-Freight Australia: 4 stored
XR class		Diesel-electric	Broad,Standard	115	2002–2006	9	6 ex-Freight Australia: 3 built in-house
RT class		Diesel mechanical	Broad,Standard	15	1957–1969	22	Ex-Freight Australia: all stored
Intermodal Division
94 class		Diesel-electric	Standard	115	2024–present	50	Fleet rejuvenation in intermodal/interstate operations, plus future Inland Rail. Will have the Evolution series engine. 'C44ESACi'
AN class		Diesel-electric	Standard	115	1992–1993	10	Ex-National Rail Corporation: all stored
DL class		Diesel-electric	Standard	115	1988–1990	14	Ex-National Rail Corporation: all stored
NR class		Diesel-electric	Standard	115	1996–1998	117	Ex-National Rail Corporation
XRB class		Diesel-electric	Standard	115	2005	3	Cabless units: all stored
Coal Division
90 class		Diesel-electric	Standard	80	1994–2005	35	Ex-FreightCorp
92 class		Diesel-electric	Standard	115	2008–2009	15
93 class		Diesel-electric	Standard	115	2012–2020	24
LDP class		Diesel-electric	Standard	115	2009–2010	9	Ex-Downer EDi
TT class		Diesel-electric	Standard	115	2009–2012	40
Pacific National Queensland
71 class		Electric	Narrow	80	2009–2011	42
83 class		Diesel-electric	Narrow	100	2008–2013	52	8347-8352 entered service in 2018; ex-Downer EDi
88 class		Diesel-electric	Narrow	100	2014	5
PH class		Diesel-electric	Narrow	100	2014	3
PN class		Diesel-electric	Narrow	100	2005	13

This sectionis missing information about the top speed of Tasmanian locomotives. Please expand the section to include this information. Further details may exist on thetalk page.(November 2025)

Class	Image	Type	Gauge	Top speed (km/h)	Built	Number	Notes
45 class		Diesel-electric	Standard	115	1962	2	Ex-Patrick Corporation; both scrapped
A class		Diesel-electric	Broad	115	1984-1985	7	Ex-Freight Australia; 6 scrapped (A71, 77, 79, 81, 83 and 85) and 1 (A78) donated to SRHC
D16 class		Diesel-electric	Standard	35	1959-1964	12	Handed back toBlueScope
D35 class		Diesel-electric	Standard	50	1975	1	Handed back toBlueScope
H class		Diesel-electric	Broad,Standard	100	1968	5	Ex-Freight Australia. 1 scrapped (H4). 1 stored (H1) and 3 sold to Ettamogah Rail Hub in 2015 (H2, H3 + H5) then H1 - H3 + H5 on sold toWatco Australia mid-2023.
L class		Diesel- electric	Standard	137	1967–1969, 1972–1973	2	Ex-ATN Access; both scrapped
P class		Diesel-electric	Broad	100	1985	5	Ex-Freight Australia. P19, P21, P22 and P23 sold on; P20 donated to707 Operations
PB Class		Hybrid	Standard	80	2014	7	Sold to Watco[when?]
S class		Diesel-electric	Broad,Standard	115	1957	3	Ex-Freight Australia. S301, S306 & S307 all sold to heritage groups in 2023 and 2024
V class		Diesel-electric	Standard	115	2002	1	Ex-Freight Australia; sold toAurizon in August 2022
Y class		Diesel-electric	Broad,Standard	65	1963–1968	20	Ex-Freight Australia: all on-sold or scrapped
DQ class		Diesel-electric	Narrow	80	1964-1969	12	ToTasRail in 2009, 4 stored
DV class		Diesel-electric	Narrow	72	1961-1971	1	To TasRail in 2009, De-motored and is used as a driving van
Y class		Diesel-electric	Narrow	72	1961-1971	1	To TasRail in 2009, 1 in service as a shunter and one de-motored and is used as a driving van
D class		Diesel-electric	Narrow		1971	2	To TasRail in 2009, all stored
DC class		Diesel-electric	Narrow	100	1964	1	To TasRail in 2009, scrapped
MKA class		Diesel-electric	Narrow	80	1967-1972	6	To TasRail in 2009, all stored
QR class		Diesel-electric	Narrow	80	1964-1969	3	To TasRail in 2009, All scrapped
Z class		Diesel-electric	Narrow	97	1973	4	To TasRail in 2009, all preserved; 2 at Don River Railway; 2 at Bellarine Peninsula Railway
Za class		Diesel-electric	Narrow	97	1973-1976	3	To TasRail in 2009, 1 stored, 2 preserved (1 at Don River Railway); 1 at Tasmanian Transport Museum
ZB class		Diesel-electric	Narrow	80	1973	4	To TasRail in 2009, 2 preserved (one at Don River Railway, other at Launceston and North East Railway), 2 stored;
ZC class		Diesel-electric	Narrow	80	1966-72	4	To TasRail in 2009, 3 scrapped, 1 preserved at Launceston and North East Railway
ZP class		Diesel-electric	Narrow	80	1973	1	To TasRail in 2009, preserved at the Don River Railway
ZR class		Diesel-electric	Narrow	80	1973	1	To TasRail in 2009, stored

Wikimedia Commons has media related toPacific National.

• Pacific National website
• Asciano website
• Railpage Organisations
• Railpage - Pacific National Locomotives

• Pacific National
• Interstate rail in Australia
• Freight railway companies of Australia
• Rail transport in Tasmania
• 2002 establishments in Australia
• Railway companies established in 2002
• Rail transport in Western Australia
• Rail transport in Victoria (state)
• Rail transport in Queensland
• Rail transport in New South Wales
• Rail transport in South Australia

• Webarchive template wayback links
• Articles with short description
• Short description matches Wikidata
• Use dmy dates from April 2020
• Use Australian English from February 2014
• All Wikipedia articles written in Australian English
• Articles containing potentially dated statements from June 2012
• All articles containing potentially dated statements
• All articles with dead external links
• Articles with dead external links from June 2023
• All articles with specifically marked weasel-worded phrases
• Articles with specifically marked weasel-worded phrases from November 2025
• All articles with unsourced statements
• Articles with unsourced statements from November 2025
• Wikipedia articles in need of updating from November 2025
• All Wikipedia articles in need of updating
• Articles needing additional references from November 2025
• All articles needing additional references
• Articles to be expanded from November 2025
• All articles with vague or ambiguous time
• Vague or ambiguous time from November 2025
• Commons category link is on Wikidata