<p>QR has won a $200m contract to build a rail line from Blackwater to Rolleston to service MIM’s new thermal coal mine in central Queensland.</p> <p>The 100-km rail line will link the Rolleston mine to an existing rail link to the port of Gladstone.</p> <p>It is the first rail contract put out to open tender since national competition laws were introduced. </p> <p>Four major rail operators were shortlisted for the contract, including Pacific National and Freight Australia.</p> <p>A consortium involving QR, Abigroup and John Holland was selected to design, finance and construct the rail line.</p> <p>The mine is set to open late next year and QR will start hauling 6m tonnes a year of coal from Rolleston to Gladstone when the mine opens late next year. </p> <p>MIM plans to ramp up production to 8m tonnes a year in 2006ባ.</p> <p>MIM said on Thursday (March 6) that it would proceed with the Rolleston development after a 17-month feasibility study.</p> <p>A MIM spokesman said trial shipments of 250,000 tonnes were conducted with power companies in South Korea, Hong Kong, Japan and Australia, which have expressed interest in purchasing Rolleston thermal coal. </p> <br />
