Arc Infrastructure

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Railway infrastructure owner in Western Australia

title: "Arc Infrastructure" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["companies-based-in-perth,-western-australia", "railway-infrastructure-companies-of-australia", "railway-companies-established-in-2006", "2006-establishments-in-australia"] description: "Railway infrastructure owner in Western Australia" topic_path: "geography/australia" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arc_Infrastructure" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Railway infrastructure owner in Western Australia ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox company"]

FieldValue
nameArc Infrastructure
logoArc Infrastructure logo.png
imageEastern rail 01 gnangarra.JPG
image_captionDual gauge Eastern Railway line in July 2007
former_nameBrookfield Rail
WestNet Rail
predecessorAustralian Railroad Group
foundation2006
area_servedWestern Australia
key_peopleStephanie Unwin (CEO)
industryRailway infrastructure manager
assetslease on 5,500 km Western Australia rail network until 2049
parentBrookfield Infrastructure Partners
location_cityPerth Airport
location_countryAustralia
homepage
::

|name = Arc Infrastructure |logo = Arc Infrastructure logo.png |image = Eastern rail 01 gnangarra.JPG |image_size = |image_caption = Dual gauge Eastern Railway line in July 2007 |former_name = Brookfield Rail WestNet Rail |predecessor = Australian Railroad Group |successor = |foundation = 2006 |founder = |defunct = |fate = |area_served = Western Australia |key_people = Stephanie Unwin (CEO) |industry = Railway infrastructure manager |services = |revenue = |operating_income = |net_income = |assets = lease on 5,500 km Western Australia rail network until 2049 |num_employees = |parent = Brookfield Infrastructure Partners |divisions = |subsid = |location_city = Perth Airport |location_country = Australia |homepage = }}

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

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6f/Wickepin_yard_from_north.JPG" caption="[[Wickepin]] yard in October 2013"] ::

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. This part of the business was rebranded as WestNet Rail.

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. 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. In March 2008 Babcock & Brown increased its shareholding to 76%. 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.

In 2017, Brookfield Rail relocated its headquarters from Welshpool to Perth Airport. In July 2017, the company was again rebranded as Arc Infrastructure.

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. During the 2025 Australian federal election campaign, the Albanese government announced funding for a feasibility study to renationalise the network.

Operations

Arc Infrastructure has a lease until 2049 on 5500 km 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.

It is responsible for maintaining the network and granting access to operators.

References

References

  1. Australian Railroad Group buys Westrail freight ''[[Railway Digest]]'' December 2000 page 23
  2. G&W wins Westrail Freight ''[[Railway Gazette International]]'' volume 156 issue 12 December 2000 page 788
  3. [https://web.archive.org/web/20090327235730/http://www.wesfarmers.com.au/about-us/company-history.html Company History] [[Wesfarmers]]
  4. Intelligence ''Railway Gazette International'' volume 157 issue 1 January 2001 page 12
  5. [https://web.archive.org/web/20140105030900/http://www.railexpress.com.au/archive/2006/Mar/30/accc-approves-qr-and-babcock-bid-for-arg ACCC approves QR and Babcock bid for ARG] ''Rail Express'' 31 March 2006
  6. [https://web.archive.org/web/20150403032958/http://registers.accc.gov.au/content/item.phtml?itemId=751220&nodeId=ada804ffa5e4587b1994f88574348171&fn=Queensland%20Rail%20and%20Babcock%20&%20Brown%27s%20proposed%20acquisition%20of%20certain%20assests%20from%20Australian%20Railroad%20Group%E2%80%9417%20May%202006%E2%80%94rail.pdf Queensland Rail and Babcock & Brown's proposed acquisition of certain assets from Australian Railroad Group] [[Australian Competition & Consumer Commission]] 17 May 2006
  7. ARG sold to Queensland Rail ''[[Catch Point (periodical). Catch Point]]'' issue 172 March 2006 page 8
  8. Intelligence ''Railway Gazette International'' volume 163 issue 7 July 2007 page 334
  9. Intelligence ''Railway Gazette International'' volume 164 issue 5 May 2008 page 282
  10. [https://web.archive.org/web/20170714201244/http://www.brookfieldrail.com/about-us/our-history.html Our History] Brookfield Rail
  11. [https://web.archive.org/web/20120621112548/http://www.au.brookfield.com/latest-news/westnet-rail-to-become-brookfield-rail Westnet Rail to become Brookfield Rail] Brookfield Australia 17 August 2011
  12. WestNet Rail Become Brookfield Rail ''[[Motive Power]]'' issue 77 September 2011 page 27
  13. [https://web.archive.org/web/20210513065052/https://thewest.com.au/business/commercial-property/brookfield-rail-signs-up-for-perth-airport-building-ng-b88351650z Brookfield Rail signs up for Perth Airport building] ''[[The West Australian]]'' 11 January 2017
  14. [https://web.archive.org/web/20230517115711/https://www.arcinfra.com/Newsroom/We-are-now-Arc-Infrastructure We are now Arc Infrastructure] Arc Infrastructure 11 July 2017
  15. [https://web.archive.org/web/20200520053107/https://www.railwaygazette.com/news/business/single-view/view/brookfield-rail-becomes-arc-infrastructure.html Brookfield Rail to become Arc Infrastructure] ''Railway Gazette International'' 17 July 2017
  16. Brookfield Rail becomes Arc Infrastructure ''[[Australasian Transport News]]'' September 2017 page 21
  17. "Cook Government to enter negotiations to secure control of the freight rail network {{!}} Western Australian Government".
  18. [https://web.archive.org/web/20250124050450/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-01-23/wa-government-to-reverse-privatisation-freight-rail-network/104852450 WA government flags plans to reverse privatisation of freight rail network] ''[[ABC Midwest & Wheatbelt]]'' 23 January 2025
  19. MP, Anthony Albanese. "Bringing WA's Rail Freight Network back into public hands".
  20. [https://web.archive.org/web/20250424090807/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-04-24/federal-government-to-help-wa-buy-back-state-rail-network/105210388 Anthony Albanese announces support for WA government to buy back state's freight rail network] ''[[ABC News (Australia). ABC News]]'' 24 April 2025
  21. [https://web.archive.org/web/20140104234301/http://www.brookfieldinfrastructure.com/_Global/22/img/content/BIP_FINAL%2020-F_2012.pdf Annual Report 31 December 2012] [[Brookfield Infrastructure Partners]]
  22. [https://web.archive.org/web/20140105021111/http://www.erawa.com.au/cproot/10716/1/Non-urban_rail_routes_covered_by_the_WA_rail_access_regime.jpg Non-urban rail routes covered by the WA rail access regime] Economic Regulation Authority

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companies-based-in-perth,-western-australiarailway-infrastructure-companies-of-australiarailway-companies-established-in-20062006-establishments-in-australia