Please attribute to Queensland Rail Head of Regional Jim Benstead:
At 6.38am this morning (Wednesday 17 August) there was a derailment incident on the Mount Isa line at Oonoomurra yard, just east of Cloncurry, involving two third-party operated freight trains.
One locomotive is on its side after that train collided with the rear of the other stationary train, causing damage to its last wagon.
One of the trains was empty while the other was carrying zinc concentrate.
Thankfully, the three drivers involved are not seriously injured.
The Mount Isa line at the derailment site is closed between Oonoomurra and Cloncurry, however rail is operational on either side of the incident.
As a result, today's (Wednesday 17 August) and tomorrow's (Thursday 18 August) Inlander services have been cancelled and replaced with road coaches, affecting 55 customers.
Safety is the number one priority at Queensland Rail and we will work with safety regulators to investigate the cause of this incident.
ENDS