New traffic for QR National

[Dean Quick]

 I have heard that QR National are about to commence railing pipes from Fisherman Islands to somewhere on the western line, supposed to last approx 12 months?  Can anyone confirm this?

[Dean Quick]

Confirmation as QR National announced on Tuesday that its subsidiary ARG has signed a contract with QGC Pty Ltd to haul approx' 260 000 tonnes of pipes from Fisherman Islands to a new siding under construction near Miles and from Gladstone to Biloela. The pipes will be used to carry gas from wells in the surat basin. This will require around 4 trains per week from Fisherman Island using double slot container wagons.

Great to see QR National actually chasing new business rather than giving it away to road!!   

 

[johnnigh]

So that's what I saw while cycling through the ped/cycle easement south of Corinda Station! :bi So, when is the new freight line Corinda-Darra going to be used? Seems to take twice as long as building a motorway - maybe the engineers haven't had as much practice.

[ozbob]

http://www.qrnational.com.au/MediaCentre/MediaReleases/Pages/QRNationalannouncesrailhaulagecontractwithQGC.aspx

QR National announces rail haulage contract with QGC
19 October 2010

Freight

Australia's largest rail freight company QR National today announced its specialist bulk freight subsidiary ARG had signed a rail haulage contract with leading Australian coal seam gas explorer and producer QGC Pty Ltd.

Under the contract ARG will transport about 260,000 tonnes of pipes from ports at Brisbane and Gladstone to central and southern Queensland over the next 10 months for QGC, a BG Group business.

ARG Group General Manager Bulk East Chris Gregg said ARG would operate four trains per week from the Port of Brisbane to Miles and seven from the Port of Gladstone to Biloela, using flat double slot-container wagons.

"This is an exciting development as it represents the first time we have tapped into the burgeoning new coal seam methane industry in Queensland which aims to supply liquefied natural gas to world markets," Mr Gregg said.

"The pipes will be used to carry gas underground from wells in the Surat Basin to QGC's proposed processing facility at Curtis Island near Gladstone, where it will be converted to liquid for export, and to domestic and commercial markets.

"We are delighted to sign this contract because it keeps more trucks off the road with consequent benefits for local communities as well as leveraging off rail's advantages as a clean, safe and energy efficient transport mode.

"It also further broadens the scope of ARG's activities across Queensland, which range from minerals and fertiliser to agricultural commodities such as sugar and grain along with livestock."

QR National is Australia's largest rail freight company with services operating across five states. In 2009/10, QR National transported more than 260 million tonnes of freight, including coal, iron ore, other minerals, agricultural products and general freight. It also operates and manages the 2300 kilometre Central Queensland coal network that links mines to coal ports at Bowen, Mackay and Gladstone.

For further details:

Corporate Affairs
Phone:  +61 438 304 990
Email:   media@qrnational.com.au

[ozbob]

I saw a pipe train UP between Oxley and Darra on the 19th October ...

[ozbob]

The announcement today by the Federal Environment Minister that the coal seam gas project is to go ahead is a surprise to no one really ...
bit of a joke actually.

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Coal seam gas projects given go ahead

[ozbob]

Surprise!

================

Premier and Minister for the Arts
The Honourable Anna Bligh
22/10/2010

New export industry set to become a reality

Premier Anna Bligh today welcomed the Federal Government's decision on the future of two multi-billion dollar Liquid Natural Gas projects which means a whole new export industry is about to become a reality.

Ms Bligh said the conditional environmental approval for both the $7.7 billion Santos/PETRONAS Gladstone LNG project and QGC Pty Ltd's $8 billion Curtis LNG project would potentially mean 10,000 jobs for Queenslanders.

"This means jobs for a generation of Queenslanders," Ms Bligh said.

"It's a world first - converting coal seam gas to liquid natural gas.

"Five years ago this was unthinkable but today, a whole new export industry is set to become a reality.

"This is great news for jobs, great news for the Gladstone region and great news for the Queensland economy."

Ms Bligh said the Government had promised to invest in jobs and new industries like LNG for Qld.

"And now we have delivered through projects like a $30 million land corridor for an LNG superhighway to Curtis Island off Gladstone, industry support for trainees and supporting a campaign to get Queenslanders on board to explore the opportunities," Ms Bligh said.

"Pending final government approvals and investment decisions by the companies, work could possibly start on these two projects later this year."

Ms Bligh said the Queensland Government would continue to work with industry to ensure LNG projects are sustainable and meet the highest environmental standards.

The state government has already imposed stringent environmental conditions on the two projects.

"The process has taken approximately two years and involved around 27,000 pages being assessed by the Queensland Coordinator General who has imposed 1,200 conditions covering everything from social housing to environment impacts.

"Along with the 300 new conditions imposed as part of the Federal Government's approval, these are some of the most stringent environmental conditions ever imposed on an industry and its projects and that reflects our government's commitment to strike the right balance between new developments and our precious environment."

==============================================================

[ozbob]

Courier Mail --> Queensland gas projects get the green light but with 300 conditions

Blog comment:

I have seen coal seam pipe trains on the way out west this week already. QRN even put out a media release on the 19th October highlighting how they will be moving 260,000 tonnes of pipes. Good the pipes are going by rail, but I think they should have waited a few days to let us all believe the big surprise today. We all like surprises ... farce!

[ozbob]

The Premier on ABC radio 612 this afternoon when confronted with the detail of the QRN media release on the 19th October said that companies take risks and the she only knew 10 minutes prior that the projects would be approved.

It is clearly a major embarrassment that the QRN media release went out before the official announcement. Even more bizarre is the actual sighting of the pipe trains, like no one was going notice??  A local mayor even commented on the radio that perhaps the pipes should have waited.  

The Greens spokesperson suggested it was all a move to force the government into a position where they couldn't stop the project.  

Obviously QRN have been gearing up a for a while, and the pipes themselves would need to be fashioned as well.  It just doesn't happen over night.

Draw your own conclusions.  It is little wonder that basic things such as sorting out the public transport system are flagging when we have an apparent subjugation of proper process if the Green's hypothesis holds.

[Jonno]

...or QGC took the punt and started ordering and shipping supplies before formal approval.  It is a commerical world and organisations take educated risks/decisions. This is a clear example of why QR National should be sold so that they can be free to operate as an independent company.

[ozbob]

It is a pity multi-billion dollar punts are not put into the passenger side of things then hey? Obviously there were clear indications long ago which way this was going to pan out hence the railing of the pipes this week already.

As the local mayor commented, seems all the media knew long ago ...

At least rail is moving the pipes.  4 trains a week on the Ipswich line will be noted.  Plenty of paths.  Pipes are going to Miles I think.

The other thing which might be impacted by these projects is the Westlander.  Obviously in line for the chop, just maybe now a regular proper modern DMU service could be put in place for the long haul out west? 

[Dean Quick]

While I am happy to see this new traffic on the rails [where it should be] I just hope that this doesn't mean that QR National will turn around and curb other rural services such as grain and livestock with convenient excuses such as lack of locomotives,rollingstock,crews and train paths,as they have done in the past.

[ozbob]

Well put Dean.