Aurizon

Aurizon Holdings Limited

Formerly	QR National
Type	Publicly traded company
Traded as	ASX: AZJ
Industry	Rail transport
Founded	2004; 17 years ago (2004)
Headquarters	Brisbane , Australia
Area served	New South Wales Queensland South Australia Victoria Western Australia
Key people	Chairman: Tim Poole CEO: Andrew Harding
Products	Coal, bulk, and containerised freight
Services	Logistics, supply chain management, line haul, and terminal operations
Revenue	A$3.179 billion (June 2018)
Number of employees	4,883 (2020)[1]
Divisions	Network, Coal, Bulk, Intermodal (pre 2018)
Website	aurizon.com.au

Aurizon, formerly QR National, is a freight rail transport company in Australia, and the largest of its kind in the nation.^[2] Formerly a Queensland Government-owned company, it was privatised and floated on the ASX in November 2010. The company was originally established in 2004–05 when the coal, bulk, and container transport divisions from Queensland Rail were brought under one banner, as QR National. The new name, Aurizon, comes from the words Australia and Horizon according to the then-CEO Lance Hockridge.^[3]

On an average day, Aurizon will move in excess of 700,000 t (770,000 tons) of coal, iron ore and other minerals, as well as agricultural products and general freight across the nation.^[4] The company transports more than 250 million tonnes of Australian commodities each year, with operations in five Australian states. Aurizon also manages the 2,670 km (1,660 mi) Central Queensland coal network that links mines to coal ports at Bowen, Gladstone and Mackay, and is the largest haulier of iron ore outside the Pilbara.^[4]

In February 2019, after permission from the Federal Court, Aurizon's intermodal and trucking business was acquired by Linfox for A$7.3 million.^[5][6] Their leased LDP class locomotives were returned to Progress Rail, SCT Logistics now operate former Aurizon routes, such as Perth-Melbourne and Melbourne-Brisbane.

History[]

The QR National brand was established in the 2004/05 financial year when Queensland Rail's coal, bulk and containerised business units were brought under one banner.

It also incorporated subsidiaries Interail, which had been acquired in March 2002 and operated services in New South Wales,^[7][8] and logistics company CRT Group, for which QR National already provided line haulage and purchased outright in June 2005.^[9][10]

In June 2006 QR National acquired Australian Railroad Group (ARG) which had operations in New South Wales, South Australia and Western Australia.^[11][12][13] ARG remained a separate subsidiary operation until it was rebranded as QR National in July 2011.

In Queensland, the major traffic is coal, both for export and domestic power generation.^[14] In 2005 QR National commenced running export coal services in the New South Wales Hunter Valley^[15] and by November 2007 the QR National network covered the entire mainland (except the Northern Territory) with the operation of their first Melbourne to Perth intermodal container service.^[16] In August 2008 QR National took over the operation of Melbourne - Horsham container service for Wimmera Container Line, after Pacific National withdrew its service.^[17]

Following a vote by its shareholders, QR National was rebranded as Aurizon in December 2012.^[18][19]

Public float[]

In June 2009 the Queensland Government announced the Renewing Queensland Plan, with Queensland Rail's commercial activities to be separated from the Government's core passenger service responsibilities, formed into a new company named QR National Limited and privatised.^[20][21][22] The company was split into two from July 2010 with QR National taking the coal business in Queensland and New South Wales, regional freight business in Queensland, bulk mineral and grain haulage in Queensland and Western Australia, and containerised freight between Cairns, Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth.^[23]

QR National received a 99-year lease over the 2,300 km Queensland coal network:^[24]

• Blackwater system based around the Port of Gladstone
• Goonyella system based around the Port of Hay Point and Dalrymple Bay
• Moura line to the Port of Gladstone
• Newlands line to Port of Abbot Point

It is responsible for the maintenance of these lines.

The rollingstock workshops at Redbank, Rockhampton and Townsville were also included.^[25]

QR National was floated in November 2010.^[26] From July 2011 all subsidiary operations were rebranded as QR National and then rebranded again to Aurizon in 2012.^[27][28]

Current fleet[]

Class	Image	Type	Top speed (km/h)	Built	Number	Business unit	Use and area of operation	Notes
Standard gauge fleet
5000		Diesel-electric	80	2005–2007	12	Aurizon	Hunter Valley coal
5020		Diesel-electric	80	2010–2014	25	Aurizon	Hunter Valley coal	Heavy haul variant of 5000 class
6000		Diesel-electric	115	2009	12	Aurizon	Hunter Valley coal	Present.
6020		Diesel-electric	115	2012	9	Aurizon	Hunter Valley coal
6040		Diesel-electric	115	2017–Present	5	Aurizon	Hunter valley coal
CF		Diesel-electric	115	2012–2013	2	Aurizon	Hunter Valley coal	Ex CFCL Australia
421		Diesel-electric	115	1965–1966	5	Aurizon	Intermodal freight, grain	Ex Interail, 4 stored
422		Diesel-electric	115	1969–1970	12	Aurizon Aurizon Bulk Freight East Aurizon Bulk Freight West	Intermodal freight.	11 ex Australian Railroad Group, 2 ex Interail, some numbered as the 22 class or DC class, 3 stored. 1 other unit exported to South Africa in January 2015.
CLF		Diesel-electric	115	1970	5	Aurizon	Interstate intermodal	Ex Australian Railroad Group, 1 stored
ALZ		Diesel-electric	115	1976	1	Aurizon	Interstate intermodal	Ex Australian Railroad Group, stored.
CLP		Diesel-electric	115	1970	5	Aurizon	Interstate intermodal	Ex Australian Railroad Group, 2 stored
AC		Diesel-electric	115	2009	8	Aurizon Bulk Freight West	Western Australia	Ex Australian Railroad Group
ACB		Diesel-electric	115	2011	6	Aurizon Bulk Freight West	Western Australia	Ex Australian Railroad Group
ACC		Diesel-electric	115	2013	3	Aurizon Bulk Freight West	Western Australia	Present
L		Diesel-electric	115	1967	1	Aurizon Bulk Freight West	Western Australia	Ex Australian Railroad Group, 1 stored
LQ		Diesel-electric	115	1967	2	Aurizon Bulk Freight West	Western Australia	1 Ex Australian Railroad Group, 1 ex Interail, stored at Avon Yard
LZ		Diesel-electric	115	1967	6	Aurizon Bulk Freight West	Western Australia	Ex Australian Railroad Group
Q		Diesel-electric	115	1997	19	Aurizon Bulk Freight West	Western Australia	Ex Australian Railroad Group
3200		Diesel-electric	100	1995–1998	3	Aurizon	New South Wales	Regauged from 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) gauge
Queensland 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) fleet
1720		Diesel-electric	80	1966–1970	28	Aurizon	General freight and shunting	16 other units sold to South Africa in 2012, 8 stored
2000		Railmotor	80	1960–1970	2	Aurizon Network	Queensland network track inspections	Nos. 2004 and 2032
2100		Diesel-electric	80	1970–1984	53	Aurizon	General freight and minerals	5 other units transferred to Western Australia as the DD class (see below), 4 other units sold to TasRail in 2011, 3 to South Africa in 2012, 2 stored for parts
2300		Diesel-electric	100	1997–2002	53	Aurizon	General freight and minerals, 7 other units in Western Australia as DFZ class (see below)	Rebuilt from 1550 class
2400		Diesel-electric	100	1977–1980	38	Aurizon	General freight and minerals	18 converted to 2300 class 1 stored
		Diesel-electric	110	2019-Ongoing	2 testing, 3 being built.	Aurizon	General freight and minerals	These locomotives are dubbed the Super Clyde. The program has so far been very successful. The exact final number of 2700 Class locomotives is unknown currently, but may be as high as 2780. These are rebuilt from older locomotives.
2800		Diesel-electric	100	1995–1998	46	Aurizon	General freight and minerals	3 other units on standard gauge (see above), 1 other unit in Western Australia as PA class (see below)
4000		Diesel-electric	100	2000–2005	49	Aurizon Coal	Blackwater and Moura coal networks	4020 scrapped
4100		Diesel-electric	100	2007–2012	56	Aurizon Coal	Blackwater, Moura and Newlands coal networks	Originally 75 units, 19 units transferred to Western Australia as ACN class
3100/3200		Electric	80	1986–1989	15	Aurizon Coal	Bowen Basin	63 rebuilt as 3700 class (see below), 4 other units sold to South Africa in 2012–2013, Remaining units scrapped during May and June 2016
3300/3400		Electric	80	1994–1995	13	Aurizon Coal	Blackwater coal network	Stored
3500/3600		Electric	80	1986–1988	68	Aurizon Coal	Goonyella coal network	15 stored
3551		Electric	80	2003–2004	14	Aurizon Coal	Blackwater coal network	Rebuilt from 3900 class
3700		Electric	80	2005–2007	63	Aurizon Coal	Goonyella and Blackwater coal networks	Rebuilt from 3100/3200 class
3800		Electric	80	2008–2010	45	Aurizon Coal	Goonyella and Blackwater coal networks
3900		Electric	100	1988-90	11	Aurizon Coal	Blackwater coal network	Stored
Western Australia 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) fleet
A		Diesel-electric	100	1960	1	Aurizon Bulk Freight West	Western Australia	Ex Australian Railroad Group, 1 other unit exported to South Africa in January 2015.
AB		Diesel-electric	100	1970	2	Aurizon Bulk Freight West	Western Australia	Ex Australian Railroad Group. 2 other units exported to South Africa in January 2015.
ACN		Diesel-electric	100	2011–2012	19	Aurizon Bulk Freight West	Western Australia	Originally part of 4100 class, transferred to Western Australia and retained their original numbers
D		Diesel-electric	100	1971	1	Aurizon Bulk Freight West	Western Australia	Ex Australian Railroad Group, 1 other unit exported to South Africa in January 2015.
DA		Diesel-electric	100	1971	3	Aurizon Bulk Freight West	Western Australia	Ex Australian Railroad Group
DAZ		Diesel-electric	100	1971	1	Aurizon Bulk Freight West	Western Australia	Ex Australian Railroad Group, 5 other units exported to South Africa in January 2015.
DB		Diesel-electric	100	1982	5	Aurizon Bulk Freight West	Western Australia	Ex Australian Railroad Group
DBZ		Diesel-electric	100	1982	5	Aurizon Bulk Freight West	Western Australia	Ex Australian Railroad Group
DD		Diesel-electric	100	1970–1984	5	Aurizon Bulk Freight West	Western Australia	Converted from 2100 class
DFZ		Diesel-electric	100	1971	7	Aurizon Bulk Freight West	Western Australia	Converted from 2300 class
P		Diesel-electric	100	1989–1991	13	Aurizon Bulk Freight West	Western Australia	Ex Australian Railroad Group
PA		Diesel-electric	100	1996	1	Aurizon Bulk Freight West	Western Australia	Converted from 2800 class
S		Diesel-electric	90	1996	11	Aurizon Bulk Freight West	Western Australia	Ex Australian Railroad Group

Former fleet[]

Class	Image	Type	Gauge	Top speed (km/h)	Built	Number	Business unit	Use and area of operation	Notes
500		Diesel-electric	Standard	80	1964	1	Aurizon	Shunting, South Australia	Ex Australian Railroad Group, donated to SteamRanger in October 2010
830		Diesel-electric	3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm)	115	1963	1	Aurizon Bulk Freight West	Western Australia	Ex Australian Railroad Group. Sold to Junee Railway Workshop in 2012.
1600		Diesel-electric	3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm)	80	1971	2	Aurizon Bulk Freight West	Western Australia	Ex Australian Railroad Group. Exported to South Africa in January 2015.
2600		Diesel-electric	3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm)	100	1983	13	Aurizon	Queensland coal and minerals	Entire class sold to South Africa in 2012
LDP		Diesel-electric	1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in)	115	2009	9	Aurizon	Interstate intermodal	Leased from Downer EDI Rail, returned following withdrawal from intermodal market 2018
2250		Diesel-electric		100	2004–2007	25	Aurizon	General freight and minerals	Rebuilt from 2100 class and 1550 class, Entire class sold to South Africa 2014 - 2015. Buyback of 5 by GWA for South Australia in 2019.

Queensland coal networks[]

Blackwater[]

The Blackwater coal network is situated in Central Queensland.^[29] This networks runs from the dual ports of Clinton Coal (Gladstone Port Authority operated) and Barney Point (BMA operated) to the mines in the southern section of the Bowen Basin coal area. This rail network transports coal from Gregory coal mine, Oaky Creek Mine, German Creek coal mine, Jellinbah coal mine, Lake Vermont Mine, Yarrabee Mine, Curragh coal mine, Boorgoon Mine, Kinrola Mine, Rolleston coal mine, Cook Colliery, Ensham Mine, Kestrel coal mine and Minerva Mines. Both the Blackwater and Goonyella coal networks are linked at Gregory Mine. At different times during the year coal may be transported from one network to the other depending on coal demand, coal blending requirements or due to network disruptions.

In 1985 the network was electrified with a 25 kV overhead traction system. The network has been extended on several occasions as more mines come online. Two recent new mines were not initially electrified. These are Rolleston and Minerva Mines. The cost involved for the electrification of these two mines was considered too high as they are a considerable distance to join onto the current electrified network. However the electrification of the rail to Rolleston Mine was completed in December 2014. The rail to Minerva Mine is not electrified.

There are both export and domestic customers served by this network. Domestic customers include Stanwell and Gladstone power stations. There are two rail operations in the network, Aurizon being the biggest operator and Pacific National being a newcomer to the network. ^[30]

Goonyella[]

The Goonyella coal network is situated in Central Queensland.^[31] Running from the dual ports of Hay Point (BMA operated) and Dalrymple Bay (BBI operated) to the mines in the northern section of the Bowen Basin coal area. This rail network transports coal from Gregory Mine, Oaky Creek coal mine, German Creek coal mine, Foxleigh coal mine, Norwich Park coal mine, Lake Vermont Mine, Saraji coal mine, Peak Downs Mine, Millennium Mine, Poitrel Mine, Moorvale Mine, Burton Downs Mine, Carborough Downs Mine, Issac Plains Mine, Moranbah North coal mine, Goonyella Riverside Mine, Hail Creek coal mine, Clermont Mine, Riverside Mine, North Goonyella coal mine, South Walker Creek coal mine, and Blair Athol coal mine. Both the Goonyella and Blackwater coal networks are linked at Gregory Mine. At different times during the year coal may be transported from one network to the other depending on coal demand, coal blending requirements or due to network disruptions.

In 1985 the network was electrified with a 25 kV overhead traction system. The network has been extended on several occasions as more mines come online. With each extension the electrified network has also been extended to accommodate the new mines. This line serves Anglo American Metallurgical Coal, (BMA) Jellinbah Resources, Peabody Energy Australia, Rio Tinto Coal Australia, Vale Australia, Bowen Central Coal, Xstrata Coal Queensland, McCarthur Coal.

There are two rail operations in the network, Aurizon being the biggest operator and Pacific National being a newcomer to the network. Xstrata has bought a number of locomotives and assures a part of its coal freight independently.

There is actually a project for the "Norther Missing Line" GAP (Goonyella to Abbot Point) railway whose objective is to link the Goonyella line to the Abbot Point Coal Terminal. With growing orders from Asian countries (mostly China & India who have huge energetic needs), the GAP is a vital project as Abbot Point has the advantage of being 2–3 days closer to Asia than other ports, reducing tonnage price. There has been no press release regarding the electrification of this line.

Moura[]

The Moura coal network is situated in Central Queensland.^[32] This networks runs from the dual ports of Clinton Coal (Gladstone Port Authority operated) and Barney Point (BMA operated) to the mines in the southern section of the Bowen Basin coal area. This rail network transports coal from Moura Mine and Boundary Hill Mine.

Newlands[]

The Newlands coal network is situated in Central Queensland.^[33] This networks runs from the Abbott Point to the mines in the northern section of the Bowen Basin coal area. This rail network transports coal from Newlands coal mine, Sonoma Mine and Collinsville coal mine.

West Moreton[]

The West Moreton coal network is situated in Southern Queensland. This networks utilizes part of QR's Western Railway Line. This rail network transports coal from New Acland coal mine (which is loaded at Jondaryan, 17 kilometres (10.5 mi) west of Oakey) and the Cameby Downs coal mine (which is loaded at Columboola (24.3 kilometres (15 mi) north-east of Miles) to the Port of Brisbane. Coal was also loaded from the Wilkie Creek coal mine until 2013 and was loaded at Macalister (27.1 kilometres (16.8 mi) west of Dalby)

Price Regulation[]

As Aurizon's infrastructure is a monopoly, it is subject to regulation by government organisations such as the Queensland Competition Authority. Aurizon has disagreed with the QCA concerning the price that it should be allowed to charge its clients, for example when the QCA used a lower weighted average cost of capital that does not account for the risk that clean energy poses to fossil fuel.^[34]

See also[]

• Australian Railroad Group
• Interail
• Queensland Rail

References[]