QR National movements still limited

QR National, the largest rail freight haulage operator in Australia, does not envisage trains operating south of Cairns for at least another 11 days, due to track damage caused by the recent weather.  

To counter these major disruptions, the company intends to move 600 tonnes of freight from Cairns to Townville by road.

In addition, it will apply a 48 percent surcharge to all consignments dated from 1 February bound for towns including places that bore the full force of Cyclone Yasi.

These include Tully, Innisfail, Cairns, Atherton and Mareeba and surrounding areas, QR National Intermodal Sales Manager Stuart Dachs told customers yesterday.

“This surcharge will continue until rail services resume,” Mr Dachs said.

Meanwhile, Transport Minister Rachel Nolan says Queensland Rail has established a regional recovery taskforce to oversee and coordinate the repair effort.

“This taskforce includes representatives with a range of knowledge and skills, including expertise in human resource management, communications, workplace health and safety, customer relations and law,” said Nolan, who was in Tully yesterday inspecting the line and speaking to Queensland Rail representatives. 

QR National’s network access division were yet to inspect areas that were still too difficult to approach and where the damage was described as “extensive”.

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