<p>Queensland Rail (QR) has increased the frequency of its containerised services between Cairns and Melbourne from four to six days a week.</p> <p>The service, which runs between Melbourne and Brisbane including a Sydney call and connections into North Queensland as far as Cairns, will now run every day apart from Sunday.</p> <p>QR chief executive Bob Scheuber said the increase in capacity is part of plans to build its national rail business.</p> <p>"With this improved capacity, QR is expecting to transport 1320 containers each day, an increase of 50%," Mr Scheuber said.</p> <p>"The expansion of this service is designed to shift freight off road and will take advantage of the anticipated gains in rail freight on the East Coast corridor."</p> <p>The Melbourne service has "proven popular" with customers since its launch in April this year, he said.</p> <p>"The strategic positioning of terminals at Yennora in Sydney and Dynon and Altona in Melbourne places QR at the hub of industrial complexes within all the major areas," Mr Scheuber said.</p> <p>In the competitive rail market it is "vital" that QR pursues commercial opportunities to expand its interstate and overseas business, he said.</p> <br />
