Statement: Improved performance of Mount Isa line

[ozbob]

Minister for Transport and Main Roads
The Honourable Scott Emerson

Improved performance of Mount Isa line

The Newman Government continues to invest in getting freight back onto rail with record tonnages being moved from Mount Isa to the Port of Townsville for export.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Scott Emerson said the Government was working hard to improve the safety and reliability of the Mount Isa line.

"Last financial year we invested approximately $44 million to maintain and improve the performance of the line," Mr Emerson said.

"This is a significant investment and has resulted in nearly six million tonnes of freight being carried on the line – a six per cent increase compared to the tonnes hauled in the previous year.

"We have also seen an improvement in the number of derailments along this line, with only one per annum occurring in the last five years due to below rail failure."

Mr Emerson said new measures had also been put in place to help operators using the line improve their safety.

"Equipment that can remotely detect rollingstock wagon wheel issues and wagon overload or imbalance has been introduced on the line to boost safety and reliability for operators," he said.

"This equipment has already prevented more than 250 potential derailments."

Mr Emerson said the line was an important part of Queensland's regional freight network.

"The North West Minerals Province has an annual output worth approximately $14.7 billion, making it one of the largest regional economies in Queensland," he said,

"Unlike the previous Labor Government, we see this line as a priority and have included the Mount Isa to Townsville Rail Corridor upgrade project in our Nation Building 2 Program submission to the federal government.

"This week Infrastructure Australia has also recognised the importance of this project by including it in its 2013 priority project list for future federal funding consideration.

"While we await federal government funding, Queensland Rail and the Port of Townsville will continue to work together to find solutions to improve this vital supply chain."

[ENDS] 5 July 2013                         

[SurfRail]

Unlike the previous Labor Government...

WE DON'T CARE!!!

[Golliwog]

What's the % increase in road freight along the Flinders and Barkly highways? I don't know, but I'm always hesitant to accept things at face value when you're only being give half the statistics.