QR National

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QR National Limited

Type	Public
Traded as	ASX: QRN
Industry	Rail transport
Founded	2004
Headquarters	Brisbane, Australia
Number of locations	59
Area served	Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia
Key people	Lance Hockridge, Managing Director & CEO
Products	Coal, bulk and containerised freight
Services	Logistics, supply chain management, line haul and terminal operations
Divisions	Bulk, Coal, Intermodal, Freight
Subsidiaries	Australian Railroad Group, CRT Group, Interail
Website	qrnational.com.au

QR National Limited is one of the larger rail freight companies in Australia and was formerly owned by the Queensland Government. It was created as an independent company on 1 July 2010 when transport and logistics company QR Limited was split into two companies. Queensland Rail is responsible for the state’s passenger operations, regional track and support services, and remains owned by the Government. QR National owns the balance of the QR business – above-rail coal and freight services, the export coal network in Queensland and rollingstock manufacturing and track maintenance services. QR National was privatised by the Government through an initial public offering and the company was listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) on 22 November 2010.

The QR National brand was established in the 2004/2005 financial year when QR’s three freight business streams – coal, bulk and containerised services, were brought under one banner. It was formed with the charter to operate freight services in Queensland and around Australia, expanding though the winning of contracts and the acquisition of other companies.^[1]

History

The company grew out of QR's Coal and Freight Services Group, along with QR subsidiary Interail. In late June 2005, rail operator QR National announced it had acquired the assets of the CRT Group,^[2] which became a separate operating entity of QR National on 1 July 2005. This was followed in 2007 by the acquisition of the rollingstock, depots and customer contracts of the Australian Railroad Group in New South Wales, South Australia and Western Australia for $446 million AUD.^[3]

In Queensland, the major traffic is coal, both for export and domestic power generation.^[4] QR National commenced the transport of export coal in the New South Wales Hunter Valley coalfields in 2005,^[4] and by November 2007 the QR National network covered the entire mainland (except the Northern Territory) with the operation of their first Melbourne to Perth intermodal container service.^[5] In July 2008 QR National took over the Melbourne - Horsham container service for Wimmera Container Lines, after the withdrawal of Pacific National.^[6]

On 2 June 2009 the Queensland Government announced the 'Renewing Queensland Plan', with Queensland Rail's commercial activities to be separated from the Government's core passenger service responsibilities, and formed into a new company called QR National Limited.^[7][8] The company was split into two from 1 July 2010.^[9]

QR's coal, freight and infrastructure businesses will be sold as an integrated enterprise, known as QR National Limited with headquarters in Brisbane. The new enterprise will control QR's coal business in Queensland and New South Wales, regional freight business in Queensland, bulk mineral and grain haulage in Western Australia and Queensland, and containerised freight between Cairns - Brisbane - Sydney - Melbourne - Adelaide - Perth. It will also have a long-term 99 year lease over the railway lines that form the Queensland coal haulage network: the Newlands line to Port of Abbot Point, the Moura line to the Port of Gladstone, the Goonyella system based around the Port of Hay Point and Dalrymple Bay, and the Blackwater system based around the Port of Gladstone, as well as network control responsibilities. The QR rollingstock workshops at Redbank, Rockhampton and Townsville are also included.^[10]

The initial public offering of the freight and coal businesses will occur in October / November 2010,^[9] with the sale expected to raise $7 billion. QR employees who will be part of the new entity will have their jobs guaranteed for two years, and receive $1000 worth of shares and the option to purchase an additional $4000 of shares at a discounted price.^[11] The Queensland Government will initially retain a 25 to 40 per cent shareholding in the publicly floated company,^[12] with Queensland residents given preference in purchasing the remaining shares.^[10]

Public float

On 2 June 2009 the Queensland Government announced the 'Renewing Queensland Plan', with Queensland Rail's commercial activities to be separated from the Government's core passenger service responsibilities, and formed into a new company called QR National Limited.^[7][8] The new structure was announced by the State Government on 2 December 2009,^[13] and will in place from 1 July 2010.^[9]

Locomotive fleet

QRNational freight service in Victoria

LDP classes in QRN Melbourne compund

Queensland coal networks

Blackwater

The Blackwater coal network is situated in Central Queensland. This networks runs from the dual ports of Clinton Coal (Gladstone Port Authority operated) and Barney Point (BMA operated) to the mines in the southern section of the Bowen Basin coal area. This rail network transports coal from Gregory Mine, Oaky Creek Mine, German Creek Mine, Jellinbah Mine, Lake Vermont Mine, Yarrabee Mine, Curragh Mine, Boorgoon Mine, Kinrola Mine, Rollestone Mine, Cook Colliery, Ensham Mine, Kestrel Mine and Minerva Mines. Both the Blackwater and Goonyella coal networks are linked at Gregory Mine. At different times during the year coal may be transported from one network to the other depending on coal demand, coal blending requirements or due to network disruptions.

In 1985 the network was electrified with a 25Kv overhead traction system. The network has been extended on several occasions as more mines come online. Two recent new mines have not been electrified. These are Rollestone and Minerva Mines. The cost involved for the electrification of these two mines was considered too high as they are a considerable distance to join onto the current electrified network.

There is both export and domestic customers served by this network. Domestic customers include Stanwell and Gladstone Powerhouses.

There are two rail operations in the network, QR National being the biggest operator and Pacific National being a newcomer to the network.

Goonyella

The Goonyella coal network is situated in Central Queensland. Running from the dual ports of Hay Point (BMA operated) and Dalrymple Bay (BBI operated) to the mines in the northern section of the Bowen Basin coal area. This rail network transports coal from Gregory Mine, Oaky Creek Mine, German Creek Mine, Foxleigh Mine, Norwich Park Mine, Lake Vermont Mine, Saraji Mine, Peak Downs Mine, Millennium Mine, Poitrel Mine, Moorvale Mine, Burton Downs Mine, Carborough Downs Mine, Issac Plains Mine, Moranbah North Mine, Goonyella Mine, Hail Creek, Clermont Mine, Riverside Mine, North Goonyella Mine, South Walker Creek Mine, and Blair Athol Mine. Both the Goonyella and Blackwater coal networks are linked at Gregory Mine. At different times during the year coal may be transported from one network to the other depending on coal demand, coal blending requirements or due to network disruptions.

In 1985 the network was electrified with a 25kV overhead traction system. The network has been extended on several occasions as more mines come online. With each extension the electrified network has also been extended to accommodate the new mines. This line serves Anglo American Metallurgical Coal Pty Ltd, Bhp Billiton Mitsubitshi Alliance (BMA) Jellinbah Resources Pty Ltd, Peabody Energy Australia, Rio Tinto Coal Australia Pty Ltd, Vale Australia Pty Ltd, Bowen Central Coal, Xstrata Coal Queensland Pty Ltd, McCarthur Coal.

There are two rail operations in the network, QR National being the biggest operator and Pacific National being a newcomer to the network. Xstrata has bought a number of locomotives and assures a part of its coal freight independently.

There is actually a project for the "Norther Missing Line" GAP (Goonyella to Abbot Point) railway who's objective is to link the Goonyella line to the Abbot Point Coal Terminal. With growing orders form Asian countries (mostly China & India who have huge energetic needs), the GAP is a vital project as Abbot Point has the advantage of being 2–3 days closer to Asia than other ports, reducing tonnage price. There has been no press release regarding the electrification of this line.

Moura

The Moura coal network is situated in Central Queensland. This networks runs from the dual ports of Clinton Coal (Gladstone Port Authority operated) and Barney Point (BMA operated) to the mines in the southern section of the Bowen Basin coal area. This rail network transports coal from Moura Mine and Boundary Hill Mine.

Newlands

The Newlands coal network is situated in Central Queensland. This networks runs from the Abbott Point to the mines in the northern section of the Bowen Basin coal area. This rail network transports coal from Newlands Mine, Sonoma Mine and Collinsville Mine.

See also

• Queensland Rail
• Australian Railroad Group
• Pacific National

References

External links

• Official website

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