A new freight service between Melbourne and Perth has seen transport company TNT become Australia’s first major private train operator. TNT will operate its own trains from July, leased from the state-owned rail body Australian National. The deal is part of the Australian Government’s long-term plan to open up for competition the interstate rail freight system, thereby lifting efficiency and cutting costs. Rail freight business is worth about $2 billion a year in Australia, equal to a fifth of national freight activity.