Goonyella Rail Expansion Project
The 924km Goonyella Rail System in Central Queensland services 30 coal mines in the northern Bowen Basin. Coal is railed to the Port of Hay Point, south of Mackay, where it is exported through the Hay Point Coal Terminal (HPCT), operated by the BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA), and the Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminal (DBCT), operated by DBCT Management. QR National is currently investing $185 million in the initial stage of the Goonyella Rail Expansion Project. Initial projects will lift coal haulage capacity from 129 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) to 140 mtpa on the Goonyella System, the single largest export coal rail network in the country. The initial rail system upgrade by QR National will allow an additional 11 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) capacity on the network, assisting further growth of Queensland’s coal industry and the state economy, and supporting port expansion by BMA to lift the capacity at Hay Point Coal Terminal.
QR National is also assessing further options for upgrading and expanding rail infrastructure on the Goonyella System across the Isaac and Mackay regions. Further details will be announced as projects are finalised.
Projects approved in initial works program:
Track duplication south of Hay Point
This project involves track duplication south of Hay Point to service both coal terminals. A holding track may also be necessary to provide additional capacity for empty trains required to travel back to Jilalan. Benefits include streamlined operations and additional train holding capacity.
Wotonga Feeder Station
This project will replace the existing Track Sectioning Cabin (TSC) at Wotonga near Moranbah with a feeder station, and construct new TSCs in Carborough Downs and Grosvenor. Benefits include better power system reliability and more efficient train operations.
Community News
QR National held a Community Information Session on Saturday, 16 July 2011 at the Alligator Creek State School to inform the local community about the track duplication project, south of Hay Point, and upcoming construction activity. The QR National project team was on hand to answer questions and share project information. The display posters from the session can be downloaded here.
Contact details
For more information, please call the QR National Community Information line on
1800 033 881 or email goonyellaexpansion@qrnational.com.au