QR National is the world’s largest rail transporter of coal from mine to port for export markets, hauling an average 500,000 tonnes a day in 2009-10. Servicing the majority of Australia’s coal producers over more than 50 mine sites, QR National operates in each of Australia’s six major coal chain systems: the Newlands, Goonyella, Blackwater, Moura and West Moreton systems in Queensland, and the Hunter Valley coal system in New South Wales.

QR National has offered rail solutions to the coal industry since the start of the modern coal era in the 1960s. As the world’s appetite for Australian coal grows, QR National continues to be a major player and pioneer in the coal industry. We play a leadership role in driving supply chain improvements. This involves developing innovative solutions to help customers increase their coal to market. We continually seek to improve our own operations to increase throughput.

Future Growth - $1.6 Billion in new contracts

Throughout the 2011 financial year, QR National continued to secure new contracts in a highly contested market. The business signed new long term contracts for in excess of 26 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) with a revenue value of more than $1.6 billion, including:

• Peabody Energy (up to 9 mtpa from its Goonyella mine to Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminal in Mackay)
• Anglo America (up to 2.7 mtpa over three years to the Port of Gladstone)
• Jellinbah Resources (up to 6 mtpa over 10 years from Lake Vermont to Abbott
  Point Coal Terminal, representing the first commitment for tonnes for the $1.1 billion
  Goonyella to Abbot Point Expansion Project)
• Stanwell Corporation Limited (up to 3.7 mtpa from Wesfarmers’ Curragh mine to Stanwell Power Station).

Read more in our 2010-2011 QR National Annual Report.