Before it went into administration in 2008, FreightLink had a 50-year
build-own-operate-transfer concession on the 1414km Darwin - Alice
Springs Railway, which opened in 2004, together with a sublease on the
existing 830km Alice Springs - Tarcoola section, which opened in 1980.

FreightLink decided to sell the line in May 2008 but went into
administration after it failed to reach an agreement with creditors on
the terms of the sale. More recently KordaMentha postponed the sale due
to the unfavourable economic climate.
Under the deal unveiled today, G&W will acquire all of
FreightLink's assets for $A 334 million ($US 277.2 million), and will
assume debts of around $A 1.7 million. G&W also expects to incur
transaction-related expenses of $A 23 million, principally related to
the payment of asset transfer tax.

FreightLink will now operate as part of G&W Australia, which has
managed FreightLink's above-rail operations since the north-south
transcontinental railway was completed in 2004.