Australia-based rail freight company Aurizon has announced that three out of its four coal systems in the Australian state of Queensland, which have been affected by Cyclone Debbie and localized flooding, have now reopened to coal trains and are operating under restricted conditions with some reduced capacity.
Accordingly, Aurizon’s Blackwater coal system, which connects into the Port of Gladstone reopened to coal traffic on April 10, the Moura system reopened to the Port of Gladstone on April 12, and traffic from the Newlands coal system to Abbot Point Coal Terminal recommenced on April 13.
Meanwhile, the worst-affected Goonyella system is now expected to reopen on April 26, with speed restrictions and reduced capacity. This is approximately one and a half weeks earlier than previously advised.
Due to the period of time of unavailability of the coal systems for haulage, Aurizon expects its rail coal tonnage for the 2016-17 financial year to be reduced by 12-14 million mt. Accordingly, Aurizon now expects a coal haulage range of 190-200 million mt, rather than the previously advised guidance of 200-212 million mt.