History
In November 1996 the federal government announced a major rail reform package that included the sale of train operators Australian National and National Rail and the establishment of the Australian Rail Track Corporation to manage the interstate rail network.
The ARTC was incorporated in February 1998, with operations commencing in July 1998 when the lines managed by Australian National were transferred. These were the lines from Kalgoorlie to Alice Springs, Whyalla, Broken Hill, Outer Harbor, Adelaide and Serviceton.
In 2000 the Tarcoola to Alice Springs line was leased to the Asia Pacific Transport Consortium as part of the project to extend the line to Darwin.
Read more about this topic: Australian Rail Track Corporation
Famous quotes containing the word history:
“Every generation rewrites the past. In easy times history is more or less of an ornamental art, but in times of danger we are driven to the written record by a pressing need to find answers to the riddles of today.... In times of change and danger when there is a quicksand of fear under men’s reasoning, a sense of continuity with generations gone before can stretch like a lifeline across the scary present and get us past that idiot delusion of the exceptional Now that blocks good thinking.”
—John Dos Passos (1896–1970)
“The history of this country was made largely by people who wanted to be left alone. Those who could not thrive when left to themselves never felt at ease in America.”
—Eric Hoffer (1902–1983)
“Regarding History as the slaughter-bench at which the happiness of peoples, the wisdom of States, and the virtue of individuals have been victimized—the question involuntarily arises—to what principle, to what final aim these enormous sacrifices have been offered.”
—Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel (1770–1831)