Freight trains returned to the full length of the Mt Isa line on Monday, April 29, twelve weeks after the line was closed by unprecedented flooding damage.
The first train, carrying a mix of products including containerised freight and minerals, left Cloncurry at approximately 1.10am on Monday morning and arrived at Townsville on Monday evening.
A further two trains left Stuart and Partington in the early hours of Monday morning, travelling to Cloncurry and Mt Isa respectively.
Queensland Rail chief executive Nick Easy said it was fantastic to see an important supply chain back up and running.
“It’s been a long 12-weeks leading up to this day, with our dedicated 400-person strong taskforce working tirelessly to restore the line as quickly as possible, racking up more than 160,000 hours of work in the process.”
In the days after the line was shut down by the major weather event and the extent of damage was still unknown, Easy dismissed media reports the repairs could take anywhere between six months and a year.
“We’re extremely thankful for the hard work of all involved in the line’s recovery and remediation,” he said on Monday.
In addition to repair works, QR took the opportunity of the line’s closure to undertake extensive maintenance and remediation works, which have cut the duration of the Mt Isa to Townsville route by 50 minutes.
“This is a fantastic result for the North West region of our state, which is not only reconnected by rail from today, but will also benefit from the improved efficiencies along the line,” Easy said.
The Inlander passenger service, which runs between Townsville and Mount Isa twice per week, is expected to resume on May 11.