<p>QR said it was now halfway through a $335m upgrade of the Blackwater rail system, which feeds the port of Gladstone about 55m tonnes of coal each year.</p> <p>It comes as QR said it had completed a 15.5-km section between Bluff and Blackwater $2m under budget and a month ahead of schedule.</p> <p>It is one of several duplications along the main artery that should boost capacity to 83mtpa by 2011.</p> <p>The work also includes the installation of overhead electric wires and signaling. </p> <p>Acting QR chief Stephen Cantwell said the upgrade was part of $700m of capital work being undertaken.</p> <p>“With the demand for Queensland coal predicted to continue to increase, this duplication of track on the Blackwater system will significantly enhance capacity and reduce congestion by reducing queuing times,” Mr Cantwell said. </p> <p>There were 18 ships waiting to load at the port of Gladstone this morning (Monday, July 16), a figure that has dropped to as low as 13 in the last two months but has largely remained steady. </p> <p>Central Queensland Ports Authority (CQPA) has capacity for about 70m tonnes of coal exports each year.</p> <br />
