A PROPOSED $300 million major upgrade of the rail freight line between Mount Isa and Townsville can be built, will be profitable and will deliver far-reaching benefits to the North West.
Premier Anna Bligh yesterday released findings of a preliminary evaluation study into the proposed Townsville Eastern Access Rail Corridor (TEARC) project.
"As part of our long term vision for the North's economic future we commissioned this study to determine if a rail line connecting the Port of Townsville with the North Coast and Mount Isa lines was feasible," Ms Bligh said.
"That study is complete, we know this project is economically viable and the Queensland Government is ready to work with industry to make it happen."
The TEARC project focused on the bottleneck that prevents long trains accessing the Port of Townsville by building a new 6.5 kilometre line that could accommodate 1.4 kilometre-long trains.
Ms Bligh said the line is one of the most significant supply chain routes in Australia, "and we can't allow it to become a bottleneck."
Train lengths were currently limited to 1000 metres on the Mount Isa line and just 650 metres on the North Coast line.
Ms Bligh said the next step was seeking interest from the private sector.
"Over the next three months, the Queensland Government will seek expressions of interest from private sector operators who wish to build and operate the new rail link.
"We have already had a proponent express interest in funding and constructing this new piece of infrastructure. It will be a big win for Mount Isa and our state," she said.
The Member for Mount Isa Betty Kiernan said a huge benefit for industry in the North West Minerals Province was the better access to port TEARC would provide.
"Along with our current mines there are several major mining projects potentially starting in North West Queensland, and Townsville's rail capacity needs to expand to meet that growing demand," Mrs Kiernan said.
"TEARC would allow massive 1.4 kilometre-long trains to run straight from Mount Isa to the port, providing substantial savings in train operating costs and passing loops.
"It would also create capacity for the growing tonnage demand on the Mount Isa rail system."
Mrs Kiernan said the need for an upgraded freight line into the Port of Townsville had been identified for a number of years.
"TEARC supports the study the Mount Isa to Townsville Economic Development Zone (MITEZ) is undertaking through the Northern and North West Queensland Supply Chain Working Group," she said.
"It will allow for more growth in the North West Minerals Province and a quicker and more efficient way of getting it to port.
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