On 29 January 2019, ARTC submitted an application to vary its 2008 Interstate Access Undertaking. The variation sought to change the following:
- extend the term of the undertaking to 29 February 2020
- set new Indicative Access Charges based on current charges escalated by CPI, except for Adelaide to Kalgoorlie segments which will be escalated by CPI + 2 %
- include an obligation on ARTC to draft a reconciliation mechanism into any future replacement or extended undertaking, that reconciles the charges set out in this variation against the charges in any replacement or extended undertaking accepted by the ACCC.
On 30 January 2019, the ACCC sent a letter to stakeholders seeking comments on ARTC's proposal. Submissions were due by 13 February 2019.
On 22 February 2019, ARTC withdrew the proposed variation to the interstate rail network from the ACCC's consideration, and submitted a revised variation application. The revised variation seeks to change the following:
- extend the term of the undertaking to 29 February 2020
- extend the notice ARTC will give to the ACCC of its intention to submit a replacement undertaking from 3 months to 6 months prior to the expiry of the undertaking.
On 28 February 2019, the ACCC consented to ARTC's revised variation application.