WestNet Rail is the operator of approximately 5000 kilometres of former WAGR railway track in Western Australia, leased from the State of Western Australia following the sale of Westrail in 2000.
WestNet Rail provides track access to rail operators including the Australian Railroad Group and other interstate traffic. WestNet Rail is responsible for maintaining the track infrastructure, signalling, level crossings, supply of the train control function and determination of track access fees.
On 14 February 2006 it was announced that WestNet was to be sold to Babcock and Brown and Queensland Rail.[1] On 19 May 2008 The Financial Review identified the only owner as Babcock and Brown Infrastructure in a map and article titled Trainspotting [2]
Brookfield Rail (formerly WestNet Rail) controls over 5,100 kilometres of crucial 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.
Owned by Brookfield Infrastructure Partners, Brookfield Rail is one of the few independent rail infrastructure providers in the world, and is responsible for access management, signalling and communication systems, train control and rail construction and maintenance throughout its network.
Brookfield Rail’s network transports a wide range of commodities including grain, alumina, bauxite, iron ore and interstate freight – as well as passengers on the Perth to Kalgoorlie and Perth to Bunbury lines – thus playing a vital role in protecting and growing Western Australia’s economy.
Freight volumes are expected to double within the next five years, through rapid expansion in the resources sector and continuing growth in interstate freight. Brookfield Rail is well placed to benefit from this expansion, and is working with government and industry to strategically plan and grow capacity in the State’s rail network.