Fears QR sale may hamper inland rail plans

Infrastructure company ATEC says the proposed sale of Queensland Rail (QR) could disrupt plans to build an inland railway.

ATEC and QR are part of a consortium that is finalising plans to build the railway linking the Surat Basin to the Port of Gladstone in the state's central region.

ATEC chairman Everald Compton says speculation about the sale is disrupting plans to build the railway.

"We've spent years getting this far with the track - we can't let it stop," he said.

"My hope is that the new owners of QR will approach it positively and we can move forward.

"I can't see any reason why we can't go ahead, provided there's cooperation between the three partners and it continues."

Mr Compton says the new owners of QR's coal freight arm may decide not to go ahead with the project.

"What we want to make sure of is that whoever winds up owning QR has got the same commitment to complete the line, will make the same investment to do that, will make the time and staff [available] to do that," he said.

"We'll still build it, we'll find another partner and build it, but it's a bit of an issue."

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Fri 19th March 2010 - 11:28am