History of rail transport in Australia
Separation of infrastructure and operations
### Separation of infrastructure and operations

Construction and maintenance of network infrastructure were consolidated into non\-profit government bodies, in the case of the interstate network and the non\-urban railways of New South Wales ([Australian Rail Track Corporation](/wiki/Australian_Rail_Track_Corporation "Australian Rail Track Corporation")) and Western Australia ([WestNet Rail](/wiki/Arc_Infrastructure "Arc Infrastructure")). This was intended to provide access to new and existing players.

The **interstate rail network** of the former [Australian National Railways](/wiki/Australian_National_Railways "Australian National Railways") was transferred to the newly established [Australian Rail Track Corporation](/wiki/Australian_Rail_Track_Corporation "Australian Rail Track Corporation") in 1998\. In 2002, the [Tarcoola–Alice Springs line](/wiki/Tarcoola-Darwin_railway_line "Tarcoola-Darwin railway line") was leased to the [AustralAsia Rail Corporation](/wiki/AustralAsia_Rail_Corporation "AustralAsia Rail Corporation"). The ARTC track consists of the track from [Kalgoorlie](/wiki/Kalgoorlie_railway_station "Kalgoorlie railway station") to [Broken Hill](/wiki/Broken_Hill_railway_station "Broken Hill railway station") and [Serviceton](/wiki/Serviceton_railway_station "Serviceton railway station"). The ARTC also manages under lease the interstate standard gauge rail network in New South Wales and Victoria and has rights to sell access between [Kalgoorlie](/wiki/Kalgoorlie "Kalgoorlie") and [Kwinana](/wiki/Kwinana_Beach "Kwinana Beach") to interstate rail operators under a wholesale access agreement with the Western Australian track owner and operator, [Brookfield Rail](/wiki/Arc_Infrastructure "Arc Infrastructure"). It also "has a working relationship with [Queensland Rail](/wiki/Queensland_Rail "Queensland Rail") about the use of the 127 kilometres of standard gauge line between the Queensland border and [Fisherman Islands](/wiki/Fisherman_Islands_railway_line "Fisherman Islands railway line"). ARTC intends to start discussions with Queensland about leasing this track once the NSW arrangements are bedded down". The ARTC also maintains the NSW rural branch lines under contract.

Other railways continue to be integrated, although access to their infrastructure is generally required under [National Competition Policy](/wiki/National_Competition_Policy_%28Australia%29 "National Competition Policy (Australia)") principles agreed by the Federal, State and Territory governments:
* Queensland – [Queensland Rail](/wiki/Queensland_Rail "Queensland Rail")
* Tasmania – [Pacific National](/wiki/Pacific_National "Pacific National")
* Victorian non\-interstate lines – Pacific National
* Western Australian non\-interstate lines – [Australian Railroad Group](/wiki/Australian_Railroad_Group "Australian Railroad Group")
* South Australian non\-interstate lines – [Genesee \& Wyoming Australia](/wiki/One_Rail_Australia "One Rail Australia")
* [Tarcoola\-Darwin railway](/wiki/Tarcoola-Darwin_railway_line "Tarcoola-Darwin railway line") – [FreightLink](/wiki/FreightLink "FreightLink")

Much maintenance of tracks were contracted out.


Which companies have rights to sell access to certain rail networks?