Qld rail line finally completely re-opened after floods

Queensland's rail network has completely re-opened following the state's damaging floods earlier this year.

The rains damaged 3800 kilometres of the state's rail network, initially affecting an area stretching from Emerald in the central west, to Cairns in the far north, through to southwestern Quilpie.

The western rail line was the last line to re-open - on Monday, three months earlier than forecast.

Premier Anna Bligh said the opening reconnected vital freight trains to towns as far out as Quilpie, and to the southwest line between Toowoomba to Thallon via Warwick, taking freight off roads.

"We are glad we can get the region reconnected and moving again," Bligh said in a statement on Monday.

State Transport Minister Annastacia Palaszczuk said there were more than 260 individual sites that required repairs in the Toowoomba Range alone, including sections of track that had to be entirely rebuilt.

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