"Short-term"? I think you'll find these guys have been profitably hauling coal around the country-side for several decades.
And profitably, too, despite them being under the ownership of a state government with all its bloated cost structure and archaic labour practices.
As for "getting in bed with iron ore mining": I'll wager anything you like that AZJ won't own 1% of any iron ore mining operation, nor will they pay one dollar for the development of any iron ore mine.
They, will, however, be very willing and keen investors in the rail and port infrastructure.
And I put it to you that the capital commitment for any infrastructure will come mostly from re-cycling capital from the low-return generating, regulated network assets in Queensland.
"you work out if this is a business where time will be your foe or friend "
Let's see now: since it has been it private ownership, AZJ's profit growth has been nothing short of impressive:
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