A key metallurgical coal rail line in Queensland, Australia, is facing delays due to a train derailment Friday night, operator Aurizon told S&P Global Platts via an email on Monday.
"On Friday, August 18, at approximately 9 pm [AEST], a loaded coal train derailed near Westwood, west of Rockhampton, on the Blackwater System. No one was injured and the cause of the incident is being investigated," an Aurizon spokeswoman said.
The Blackwater system links Central Queensland mines from the Bowen Basin to the Port of Gladstone, where the coal is exported to the seaborne market.
Aurizon already had network maintenance scheduled for Monday, which involved a 12-hour closure on the Blackwater system.
"This closure has been extended to support the recovery of the derailed rolling stock and repair of rail infrastructure," the spokeswoman said.
"Since the derailment, Aurizon has been operating a single track on this part of the Blackwater System. There has been some delays and cancellations of coal rail services, and Aurizon is communicating with its mining customers and the ports throughout this event," she added.
Aurizon expects the repairs to be completed and both tracks operational by approximately 2 pm AEST on Tuesday.
Major Aurizon customers in the Blackwater System include BHP Mitsubishi Alliance, Jelinbah Resources, Wesfarmers and Glencore.
