Track boss promises to get along with Toll

By PAM GRAHAM


David George, the man chosen to oversee the nation's railtrack in Government ownership, has a record of taking business from both Toll Holdings and road users in Australia.

But when he takes up the reins as head of New Zealand Railways Corporation in mid-November, he will be looking to get on with Toll NZ.

"I have a view that an above-rail operator has to work closely with a network operator," he said.

Queensland Rail, where George has worked since 1990, services Toll's logistics business in the state and competes with Toll's rail joint venture, Pacific National, in its home and other states.

"It's a bit like Coles and Woolies," he said. The two are Australian supermarket chains.

"I know them and respect them and in New Zealand I will treat them as my major customer, and treat them with the respect they would anticipate.

"On the other side of the coin, I will firmly represent the interests of New Zealand Railways Corporation and the Government in terms of maintaining and developing the track," he said.

Queensland Rail is Government- owned but its track is open to others.

George was most recently in charge of Queensland Rail's strategy but, when he ran the freight division, he increased business from less than 100 million tonnes to more than 150 million tonnes.

"It was an enormous amount of additional freight which we got on the rails and off the roads and I will be working with Toll NZ to try and increase rail's traffic," he said.

That was not a declaration of war on truck operators as rail was suited to long-distance freight.