- Queensland Rail is offering start-up businesses on the Mount Isa line including the rock phosphate industry an innovative pricing structure which provides significant savings on access charges and will help increase freight volumes.
- The offer will lower the cost of entry for accessing the rail network, taking the pressure off new and existing rock phosphate rail users while they develop their operations.
- The incentive applies to all eligible rock phosphate loads on rail.
The grass is looking greener for rock phosphate customers using Queensland Rail's Mount Isa line, with the announcement of a new incentive that reduces rail access charges for eligible rock phosphate loads.
This special offer is aimed at supporting the rock phosphate mining industry in the North West and enhancing cost-effectiveness for those fledgeling businesses that rely on the transportation of rock phosphate by rail.
Queensland Rail's Head of Regional Scott Cornish said Centrex's administrators were informed of the offer last month.
“We have implemented several access charge initiatives to support the haulage of rock phosphate on the Mount Isa line over the last couple of years, so we were dismayed to hear of Centrex's Ardmore phosphate mine going into administration recently.
“We have swiftly implemented additional cost relief measures, hoping to assist in the mine's recovery and the resumption of operations.
“The incentive - a substantial discount linked to the rock phosphate commodity price - has been extended to the current rail operator and administrators, enabling them to pass on the savings to rock phosphate rail customers, significantly reducing their annual rail access costs," Mr Cornish said.
“Queensland Rail is focussed on supporting safe, efficient, reliable, and affordable rail freight services.
“We want to assure customers that we have taken onboard their feedback about the cost of their operations, and we are committed to keeping their business on the Mount Isa line rock solid.
“This offer will help support local jobs and boost local economies and we look forward to seeing rail freight volumes increase."
Queensland Rail encourages all rock phosphate customers to explore rail haulage options and take advantage of this offer to benefit from significant savings on their freight transportation costs.
ENDS