QR's chief executive officer Lance Hockridge is the Australasian Railway Association's (ARA) new chairman
May 30, 2011
Queensland Rail’s Managing Director Lance Hockridge is the new Chairman of the Australasian Railway Association (ARA).
He has replaced David Marchant who is now retired after chairing the ARA for two years.
ARA Chief Executive Officer Bryan Nye welcomes Hockridge’s appointment, saying he will ensure continued leadership for the rail industry.
“Lance joined QR in 2007 and has since overseen the privatisation of the freight side of the business, QR National, which he now heads,” Nye says.
“He has more than 30 years’ experience in the transport industry and the knowledge and expertise to drive Australasian rail industry to bigger and better things and to ensure the industry is able to meet growing passenger and freight demands.”
Hockridge says he hopes to bring a broader perspective to the integral role of rail in Australia’s future economic and social development.
“Rail cannot be viewed as standing apart from the broader transport and logistics industry in this country,” Hockridge says.
“Rather it needs to be recognised for its strengths and as an integral component in domestic and export supply chains and in providing positive public transport outcomes.
“There’s much work to do among many stakeholders – policy makers, transport industry leaders, business and the general community – to realise the genuine benefits that rail can deliver to the economy and to Australians.
“Now is the time to deliver on change and invest in future transport infrastructure, when the transport task is escalating rapidly on the back of a resources boom and a resurgent Australian economy.”
Rail in Australia transports more than 850 million tonnes of freight per year and provides 769.9 million passenger trips each year, the ARA says.