The autonomous train, consisting of three locomotives and carrying around 28 000 t of iron ore, travelled over 280 km from Rio Tinto’s mining operations in Tom Price to the port of Cape Lambert.
The policy announcement is in response to air pollution caused through haulage by trucks.
In the midst of Aurizon's threat to halt the movement of coal, coal exports were reportedly higher this year compared to 2017 due to stronger global demand and the impact of Tropical Cyclone Debbie.
QRC believes a new Australian Government report highlights the risk of “potential capacity losses from proposed changes to the maintenance schedule of Aurizon, the rail network operator of the Central Queensland Coal Network.”
The troubled rail firm believes controversial changes to its maintenance regime in Queensland will reduce the state’s coal haulage capacity by 20 million tpy in 2019.
Time is now up for Aurizon to reveal its decision on its Queensland coal by rail maintenance.
Coal deliveries by rail increased by 400 000 t, to total 17.8 million t in May.
The Queensland Competition Authority will be considering Aurizon’s business case for rail maintenance in two days time.
By the end of 2019, the Chinese steelmaking city of Tangshan has plans to end the movement of its bulk commodities by truck and instead shift the transportation of all of its iron ore and coal from ports to steel mills by rail.
BNSF Railway Company requests two-year file extension for Positive Train Control deadline.
Thyssenkrupp has supplied new quadruple rail car dumpers and shiploaders to the Caofeidian coal terminal in China.
The Rail Delivery Group Freight Board has appointed DB Cargo UK’s Chief Executive as Chairman of the Board.
Aurizon should resume its normal maintenance programme and end the coal export impasse, says the Queensland Recourses Council.
The strike by Canadian Pacific rail workers has ended after reaching a tentative agreement.
After being unable to agree with management on new contract terms, Canadian Pacific rail workers have gone on strike.