Line reopens after Cloncurry derailment

The rear 14 wagons of a 54-wagon freight train travelling on the North West Line derailed near Oorindi, 67 km east of Cloncurry on September 2nd.
The train was hauling lead concentrate from a mine near Cloncurry to the port of Townsville when the derailment occurred resulting in lead concentrate spilling from five of the wagons.
The material was contained in a 250 metre area within earthen bunds and did not enter any waterways and presented minimal environmental risk, according to the Department of Environment and Resource Management (DERM).
Environmental experts from the mine were on site to assist QR in containing the spill with DERM officers and specialist soil technicians from Townsville also joining the clean-up team.
Vacuum trucks continued to work through last weekend to remove the lead concentrate. QR said that any contaminated material will be taken to the BHP Billiton's Cannington Mine for safe containment.
QR worked with customers to schedule a number of freight services for September 3rd and the first passenger train travelled through the area early on September 4th.