QR National struggles to recover coal network

Saturday, 22 Jan 2011

As floodwaters gradually recede, the impact on Queensland's coal network customers and tonnages including the cost of recovery is yet to be fully assessed.
While Freight Rail provider QR National said that there is progress on the recovery efforts across the company’s operations, total coal tonnages across the QR National coal network, which is used by both QR National and Pacific National trains, is expected to continue to be impacted over coming weeks.
QR National said that the Moura coal line was opened to traffic last week and the Blackwater network is now targeted to re open late this week, following a detailed track inspection.
The company said that “The Newlands line to Abbot Point Coal terminal near Bowen continues to operate. This system has remained open throughout and while it operated at reduced railings in December it has recovered well in January.”
QR National said that “The Goonyella network into the ports of Dalrymple Bay and Hay Point, south of Mackay, is also still operating, despite being closed from 24 to 30 December following the derailment of a Pacific National train near Yukan. The network is currently working at around 70 percent capacity due to reduced coal availability.”
QR National said that “The Blackwater network that feeds into the port of Gladstone is expected to re open this week, following a detailed inspection and assessment of flood damaged track.”
It said that “The system has been closed since December 27. QR National has mobilized resources, both people and equipment, to ensure repairs are completed efficiently. On current estimates, services are expected to resume on the line as early as Thursday (20 Jan), pending no significant rain and recovery operations proceeding as planned. It is planned that services would be available from Burngrove (near Blackwater) east from that time, and then progressively to mines located on the (northern) Gregory branch from the weekend (22/23 January).”
QR National said that “Precise dates for resumption of services for the Minerva and Rolleston mines are yet to be determined."
In southern Queensland, QR National said that it is unable to operate services west of Brisbane because of flooding and damage to the rail line on the Toowoomba Range following a landslide on 10 January.
Mr Lance Hockridge MD of QR National said that “QR National is awaiting further advice from the network owner, Queensland Rail, on the extent of the damage to infrastructure and likely timeframe for restoration of the track.” He added that “We are unable to provide services to coal customers, west of Brisbane and to grain and general freight customers in south-west Queensland.”
QR National's general freight services along the North Coast Line to locations beyond Gladstone to Cairns are not able to operate because the line remains cut by floodwaters at Rockhampton. This is expected to continue through this next week.
(Sourced from www.supplychainreview.com.au)