QR National expands tonnages with Wesfarmers Curragh
QR National has signed a new long-term haulage contract with Wesfarmers Curragh for the transport of coal from the Curragh mine to the new Wiggins Island Coal Export Terminal.
The new long-term contract will see up to 1.5 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) of coal hauled.
This means from mid-2014, QR National will be contracted to haul up to 10 million tonnes per annum of coal from the expanded Curragh mine to ports near Gladstone.
QR National has an existing long-term coal haulage contract with Wesfarmers for up to 8.5 mtpa from Curragh to RG Tanna Coal Terminal and Barney Point Coal Terminal.
QR National Managing Director and CEO Lance Hockridge said the company was focussed on performance-based contracts that were underpinned by reliability, certainty of supply and safety.
“We are pleased to continue our long-term relationship with Wesfarmers, and look forward to assisting their continued growth in Queensland,” he said.
“QR National is absolutely committed to delivering a high level of customer service to Wesfarmers, with a strong focus on performance, reliability and safety.”
The rail haulage contract is the second secured by QR National for tonnages into the new Wiggins Island Coal Export Terminal, due to begin operations in 2014. The other contract was Aquila Washpool for 1.6mtpa.
QR National is Australia's largest rail freight company with services operating across five states. In 2010/11, QR National transported more than 240 million tonnes of freight, including coal, iron ore, other minerals, agricultural products and general freight. It also operates and manages the 2300 kilometre Central Queensland coal network that links mines to coal ports at Bowen, Mackay and Gladstone