Queensland Rail has dismissed the concerns of a lobby group about the proposal to bring double-stacked trains onto the Mount Isa-Townsville rail line.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
After Transport Minister Mark Bailey used a Mount Isa visit to announce Queensland Rail would look at enabling double-stacked trains to run from Mount Isa to Townsville, the Brisbane-based Rail Back on Track initially doubted whether it was possible.
The group's Robert Dow initially said that while they welcomed the Palaszczuk Government's $50 million investment in the line they doubted the business case would stack up due to technical reasons.
"The Townsville - Mount Isa railway is 1067 mm ( 3' 6" gauge ) and as far as we can determine there is no railway system in the world of 1067 mm gauge that runs double stacked trains," Mr Dow said last week.
However after hearing QR CEO Nick Easy on radio discussing the matter, Mr Dow later clarified his statement to say QR would be using the containers for mine materials in the form of full on the bottom and empty on the top.
While this would not be true double stacking, there is a saving as the empty containers would not need to be send separately to be filled up at the port.
"This is a lot different from double stacking full height standard containers as was first thought," Mr Dow said.
"This would make the transport of mine materials more efficient and take the stress of the road."
QR CEO Nick Easy said the proposal would look at including double-stacking a standard container and a half height container to run from Mount Isa to Stuart and potentially to the port of Townsville with a business case being finalised this year.
"The business case will finalise the cost of the initiative, investigate the engineering viability and ensure there is sufficient demand for stacking one and a half containers from Stuart to Mount Isa," Mr Easy said.
"The engineering viability will include obtaining the appropriate clearance under various structures to allow sufficient height to enable the multi-stacking."
Mr Easy said the project would be the first of its kind across the QR network.
"It is well suited to the Mount Isa line for mining inputs such as fuel and cement," he said.
"This initiative will not only increase efficiency along the line and the productivity of intermodal trains, but also support jobs in the state's North West."
Mr Easy said business cases were also in the works for two further projects along the line including stage two of a track renewal program and waterways resilience upgrades to enhance flood immunity.
"These business cases are also being finalised and tender processes will commence following this," he said.
"The Mount Isa line is one of the state's key freight paths and we're always looking at ways to further improve the line's operations and durability to ensure freight transport via rail is a viable option for industries."
READ MORE: Mount Isa City Council cleans water mains
While you are here, subscribe to our weekly email delivered to your inbox every Tuesday and Friday.