Internodal deal saves 200 jobs in region

Workers’ future secured by Linfox

FREIGHT company Linfox has sealed a deal to purchase Aurizon’s Queensland Intermodal business, guaranteeing service continuity for customers and securing hundreds of Queensland jobs.

The company is now set to welcome almost 200 Aurizon employees into the Linfox Intermodal business unit, including those servicing St George, Toowoomba, Charleville, Cunnamulla and Dalby, and ensure vital freight services into and out of regional towns are preserved.

The Federal Court of Australia lifted an interlocutory injunction on the sale of Aurizon’s QIB on November 19, which will allow employees, freight forwarding, pick-up and delivery assets and rail wagons to transfer to Linfox on January 31, 2019.

“Not only will this agreement deliver service continuity to customers, it provides much needed certainty to the employees and communities who have been living in doubt for two years and who would have been impacted if the Aurizon intermodal business had closed,” Linfox president of Intermodal Ian Strachan said.

From February 1, 2019, businesses operating into and out of northern Queensland will have a new and compelling logistics option.

The integrated road and rail services will provide greater speed and efficiency in delivering goods to market and direct customer relationship will deliver sole accountability for end-to-end service.

“We’re now positioned to realise the full potential of the business and bring greater access, competition and service to customers operating within the region,” Mr Strachan said.

“This is just one way that we’re looking ahead to play a greater role in the success of Queensland, our customers and Australia more broadly. We’ve waited a long time for this and we’re looking forward to showing what Linfox can do with such a strategic asset.”

Linfox CEO Mark Mazurek said the agreement was only the start of Linfox’s long-term investment in the region.