Australia’s largest rail and freight company, QR National, maintained its growth by carrying a record 262.3 million tonnes of freight in the year to 30 June 2010.
Managing Director & CEO Lance Hockridge said the market growth, market share gains and operational improvements drove a six percent increase in tonnages over the previous year.
“When we hauled 247.7 million tonnes of freight in 2008/09, it was more than any other rail and freight company in Australia,” Mr Hockridge said.
“In 2009/10 we exceeded that level as coal tonnages increased by five percent and other freight tonnages rose by eight percent over the previous year.
“In Queensland and the Hunter Valley of New South Wales our QR National Coal business hauled 198.4 million tonnes of metallurgical and thermal coal from mines to ports and domestic terminals.
“This was despite track closures due to flooding which we estimate reduced tonnages by more than five million tonnes.
“During the year the coal business increased its share of the growing Hunter Valley market and started to reap the benefits of a reform program in Queensland through improved performance.
“The reforms enabled QR National Coal to end the year on a high note by carrying a record 4.5 million tonnes of coal across all its operations in the week 21 to 27 June.”
Mr Hockridge said QR National carried 63.9 million tonnes of other freight including general freight across the nation, livestock in Queensland, and minerals and other bulk commodities in Western Australia and Queensland through subsidiary ARG.
“These results underline the size and scope of QR National’s operations and demonstrate why we’re proud to say we are moving a nation,” he said.
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