Monsoonal Rains Disrupt Queensland Rail's Regional Network

Queensland Rail's regional network remains impacted by monsoonal rain in North Queensland

• The Mount Isa and North Coast rail lines remain closed in sections due to monsoonal rain causing severe flooding in parts of North Queensland.
• Passenger rail services the Inlander and Spirit of Queensland have been impacted by these closures.
• Queensland Rail teams have been out inspecting and repairing damage where possible.

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​Queensland Rail crews are hard at work inspecting, repairing and planning for recovery as two key passenger and freight arteries remain closed in parts due to extreme flooding in the north of the state.

The Mount Isa line is closed between Hughenden and Cloncurry, while the North Coast line is closed south of Townsville.

Customers travelling in those areas on the Inlander and the Spirit of Queensland (from Ayr north to Cairns) are impacted and are being contacted directly about changes that affect them.

Where possible, road coaches have been arranged to transport customers to their destinations.

Queensland Rail Head of Regional Scott Cornish said that Queensland Rail teams were working tirelessly on plans to get both lines operating again.

"We know how important both lines are for freight and passenger customers, and the communities that we serve.

"Our Mount Isa line is vast and while we have already inspected more than 1,500 kilometres of track, there is still close to 80 kilometres that we cannot yet get access to due to the flooding, with waters yet to recede.

"This will be a huge repair job, with our key area of concern spanning approximately 150 kilometres west of Neila, where we have a lot of damage to the track.

"On the North Coast line the area that's been most severely impacted is 30 kilometres of track south of Townsville where we have had washouts and other damage.

"We have been conducting preliminary aerial inspections, have cleared debris and repaired damage where possible, and have our people, machinery and materials ready to commence further recovery.

"However, we can't get a full damage assessment until the until the waters recede so we can get on with the mammoth task of recovery.

"We have more than 160 workers either deployed or ready to assist with this recovery as well as 70 pieces of machinery, kilometres of bog mats and tonnes of ballast and formation materials."

Customers can keep up to date with service disruptions on the Queensland Rail Travel website.