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Australian Railroad Group (ARG) recently entered the second phase of an organizational restructuring designed to strengthen the group's competitive position in Australia's privatized rail industry.


By year end, ARG plans to cut 64 jobs from its workforce of 1,020, reducing expenses by $2.6 million.


ARG also plans to reorganize its state-based operations into a national structure to lower corporate and operational overhead, as well as implement other initiatives to reduce operating costs.


ARG, which is half-owned by Genesee & Wyoming Inc. (GWI) and Wesfarmers Ltd., purchased the assets of Westrail Freight from Western Australia's government in 2000.


The restructuring will enable ARG to maintain profitability next year despite expectations for a weak 2003 grain harvest, said Mortimer Fuller III, GWI chairman and chief executive officer, in a prepared statement.