AURIZON was in the firing line when the Transport, Housing and Local Government Committee arrived at Cloncurry yesterday for a public hearing.
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The committee is investigating ways to increase agricultural freight on Queensland rail lines.
Committee member and Member for Morayfield Darren Grimwade said shop owners, people in agribusiness and cattle farmers had a desire to use the line, but described the services on offer as poor in terms of reliability and cost effectiveness.
Committee chairman and Member for Warrego Howard Hobbs said along with upgrades to ageing rail equipment and the need for money to be spent by the government on the North West rail corridor, Aurizon also had its own part to play to attract more industries to rail.
``We want to see more livestock and more general freight to do with all the towns,'' he said.
``We have some of our towns that have no rail services at all, but they're being supplied by trucks, by Aurizon.
``They [Aurizon] don't seem to have been that enthusiastic at going out and chasing more freight.''
Mr Hobbs said the state government projected Queensland freight would double by 2030.
He said the only way to avoid more gridlock in the city and the country was to put rail back on the agenda.
``The road train industry has met the needs of the community and have been able to provide services and the right vehicles for the farmer and the miner,'' he said. ``We need to be able to change the way we do business so it is also attractive and competitive.