Bulk Rail Freight Carrier Invests In the Future Of Iron Ore

AUSTRALIA – Rail freight giant QR National whose specialist bulk freight subsidiary ARG recently signed a contract with QGC Pty the coal seam gas explorer to ship 260,000 tonnes of pipework in the next ten months are to expand their locomotive fleet with the purchase of six C44ACi units from UGL Limited.

QR say that they anticipate growth in the iron ore sector in the next five years and are quoted as saying that they predict an increase in tonnage of about 8.5% per annum. This falls in line with analysts’ forecasts that China and India will continue to buy in more and more ore supplies. QR intends to use the new locomotives to haul ore from the Karara project, a joint venture between Western Australian Gindalbie Metals and AnSteel of China.

UGL are also having a lively time lately reporting the QR sale and saying they have been asked to supply 227 rail freight wagons along with the engines. They have also supplied 9 of their GE Evolution Loco’s to Rio Tinto in Western Australia whilst signing them up for a five year locomotive service and support agreement plus a similar agreement with another WA iron ore producer and the sale of 450 locomotive bogie frames to GE to serve the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) market.

Photo :- Pipes Arriving at the Karara Project site.