A push by Queensland Rail to move road freight to rail transport will see the government organisation spend $62 million this financial year on the state’s western railway lines.
A total of $27 million will be spent on rail infrastructure upgrades, while a further $35 million is allocated for general freight line maintenance.
“Queensland Rail continues to work closely with the Department of Transport and Main Roads and industry to implement the Regional Freight Strategy and help drive a modal shift from road to rail,” a QR spokeswoman said.
She added that the replacement of 41 kilometres of steel sleepers on the Mount Isa railway line is currently underway at an estimated cost of $25 million.
Queensland Rail has confirmed it spent $41 million maintaining the Mount Isa rail line last financial year, as well as $16 million in direct rail capital investment.
Also, the maintenance of Glenmorgan’s railway line and upgrades on the western line between Rosewood and Quilpie, in south west Queensland, cost taxpayers $48 million last fiscal year. Plus, a further $23 million was paid to improve southern railway line infrastructure in the 2015/16 financial year.