QR's Hockridge hails coal rail master plan boost
27 Aug 2008

The final piece in QR's 2006 coal rail infrastructure master plan would fall
into place with the commissioning this week of a 7 km track duplication, chief
executive Lance Hockridge said yesterday.

The $32m duplication from Westwood to Wycarbah was the sixth duplication QR has
completed in central Queensland's Blackwater system in the last two years.

The completed plan should allow a 30% increase in coal haulage in the Blackwater
system.

"This is an important milestone in QR Network's current $1.3bn capital
investment program," Mr Hockridge said.

"With the demand for Queensland coal continuing to increase, this duplication in
conjunction with other infrastructure works, will meet the required future rail
capacity and performance of the Blackwater system.

"It comes hot on the heals of the commissioning of the Callemondah third rail
spur, ensuring QR's commitment to industry and also signals the completion of
the first phase of our capital investment in the Blackwater system totalling
$330m."

Additional infrastructure projects and duplications in the system were in
planning stages or already under construction.

These included duplications between Stanwell and Wycarbah and between Grantleigh
and Tunnel.

Mr Hockridge said the impact on coal haulage capacity would be significant as a
result of the upgrades on the system: "In 2005/06, our coal exports via the
Gladstone ports were 45.6m tones per annum and we expect that, in 2010, the
upgrades to the Blackwater/Moura system will allow port exports to increase to
76 mtpa."

Tony Bailey

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