Article: QR Redbank wins $23.7m contract

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From the Queensland Times click here!

QR Redbank wins $23.7m contract

QR Redbank wins $23.7m contract

Zane Jackson | 2nd December 2009

IPSWICH rail workers have snared a $23.7 million contract to build train carriages for New South Wales, with QR Redbank Railway Workshops set to make 106 coal wagons.

Premier Anna Bligh yesterday said the Redbank workshops would build the wagons to haul coal in the Hunter Valley, and are scheduled for delivery in April.

The new wagons order follows QR recently being awarded competitive tenders to haul coal for NSW companies Peabody Energy and Felix Resources.

?While many people think of QR purely as a Queensland operator, the reality is that this work is coming to Ipswich purely because QR has gone out into the market and won highly competitive long term commercial coal contracts,? Ms Bligh said.

?QR has been making great headway in winning new business for the haulage of coal in New South Wales and is certainly making its mark ? nationally ? for its successful and strong business reputation.?

Rail Tram and Bus Union state secretary Owen Doogan said the contract showed QR?s coal haulage operation was a profitable business that should not be sold under the State Government?s privatisation plans.

?It goes to show that QR is competitive as a public owned entity, to go out there and win contracts like this shows what a highly-skilled and efficient workplace the Redbank workshops is,? Mr Doogan said.

?If private owners come in, we don?t know if they?d be interested in just looking after their own trains or actually going out and going for these contracts.?

Transport Minister Rachel Nolan said this was the first time the Redbank workshops would be involved in the production of standard gauge wagons for the coal industry.

?QR has a strong reputation in the Hunter Valley and the introduction of these new Queensland-built wagons will help further boost that reputation,? Ms Nolan said.

? The Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce yesterday said it fully supported the State Governments decision to sell some publicly owned assets.

Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce president Brian Hooper said the sale of publicly owned assets would position the State Government to help fast-track the rail line to Springfield, duplicate the Centenary Highway and support the Mater Health Service?s bid for a private hospital in the area.