QR Network has commissioned 14 kilometres of newly duplicated track in Central Queensland between Broadlea and Wotonga ahead of schedule and $18 million under budget.

Executive General Manager of QR Network Michael Carter today said the newly duplicated track between Broadlea and Mallawa, and Mallawa and Wotonga, provided the infrastructure improvement necessary to haul additional tonnage and maintain transit times on the Goonyella coal branch line.

“This project was completed two months ahead of schedule and $18 million under budget and is now fully operational,” Mr Carter said.

“The successful early delivery of this rail infrastructure and its associated capacity increase demonstrates QR Network’s COALRail Infrastructure Program’s ability to deliver on time.

“It also shows our commitment to working closely with our partners on the Goonyella Coal Chain to meet the forecast 40 per cent capacity increase by 2009.”

The infrastructure enhancement will boost QR Network’s service to coal ports through additional train paths, resulting in reduced congestion and an improvement in transit times.

“The track duplication enables us to continue to run services through the important Broadlea to Wotonga sections when a single line of track is closed,” Mr Carter said.

The final cost forecast for the 14 kilometre track duplication is $70 million - $18 million less than the original budget estimate.  

The duplication was delivered progressively in four sections between April 2008 and October 2008.   The final Isaac Plains to Wotonga section was commissioned this week.

“The West and North Goonyella branches are set to experience incremental increases in output from established mines.  In addition, the potential introduction of new mines at Isaac Plains and Carborough Downs in the future, will contribute to an overall capacity increase on the Goonyella system from 92 to 129 million tonnes per annum in 2009.” Mr Carter said.

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