QR’s Hockridge hails coal rail master plan boost

<p>The final piece in QR’s 2006 coal rail infrastructure master plan would fall into place with the commissioning this week of a 7 km track duplication, chief executive Lance Hockridge said yesterday.</p> <p>The $32m duplication from Westwood to Wycarbah was the sixth duplication QR has completed in central Queensland’s Blackwater system in the last two years. </p> <p>The completed plan should allow a 30% increase in coal haulage in the Blackwater system. </p> <p>&#8220This is an important milestone in QR Network’s current $1.3bn capital investment program,&#8221 Mr Hockridge said. </p> <p>&#8220With the demand for Queensland coal continuing to increase, this duplication in conjunction with other infrastructure works, will meet the required future rail capacity and performance of the Blackwater system. </p> <p>&#8220It comes hot on the heals of the commissioning of the Callemondah third rail spur, ensuring QR’s commitment to industry and also signals the completion of the first phase of our capital investment in the Blackwater system totaling $330m.&#8221 </p> <p>Additional infrastructure projects and duplications in the system were in planning stages or already under construction. </p> <p>These included duplications between Stanwell and Wycarbah and between Grantleigh and Tunnel. </p> <p> Mr Hockridge said the impact on coal haulage capacity would be significant as a result of the upgrades on the system: "In 2005&#4706, our coal exports via the Gladstone ports were 45.6m tones per annum and we expect that, in 2010, the upgrades to the Blackwater&#47Moura system will allow port exports to increase to 76 mtpa." </p> <br />