Coal train derails in Australia's Queensland state, no injuries

Aurizon Holdings

30/01/2023 06:21

MELBOURNE, Jan 30 (Reuters) - A coal train in
Australia's Queensland state derailed after it hit a freight
train late on Sunday night, haulage operator Aurizon Holdings
 AZJ.AX  said on Monday. 
    The accident, which did not result in any injuries, derailed
some container wagons, damaged the train track and overhead
power lines, it said in a statement to Reuters.  
    As a result, the rail corridor between the towns of
Rockhampton and Gladstone, which carries coal from the state's
Bowen Basin, will be closed until the line can be repaired,
Aurizon said. 
    It was unclear how long repairs would take.  
    Australia is the world's top exporter of metallurgical coal,
mostly excavated from the Bowen Basin, shipping out some 170
million tonnes a year. The port of Gladstone exported 62 million
tonnes of coal last year of which 30% was thermal coal according
to government and port figures.
    "At approximately 715pm last night (29 Jan)...there was an
incident involving an Aurizon coal train and Pacific National
freight train," Aurizon said in a statement. 
    "Rail safety officers from the Office of the National Rail
Safety Regulator (ONRSR) were on site today to commence the
investigation.  Recovery work will not commence until ONRSR
releases the site."    
 (Reporting by Melanie Burton; Editing by Kim Coghill)
 ((melanie.burton@thomsonreuters.com Twitter: @MelanieMetals;
+613 9286 1421; Reuters Messaging:
melanie.burton.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))