A 150 km standard-gauge railway has been selected as preferred option for moving coal from the Surat basin coalfield in southeastern Queensland to Tarong power station, where the government authorised a 450MW increase in generating capacity on November 15. The line is being promoted by Sudaw Developments Ltd as part of a regional plan (RG 10.98 p630).
Starting from Glen Wilga, the line would traverse flat open country for the first 50 km, and cross the Great Dividing Range on gradients no steeper than 2%. The track would be laid with 60 kg rail on concrete sleepers, permitting 32 tonne axleloads. A fleet of 6000hp AC-motored diesel locos would haul trains of aluminium hopper wagons grossing 14000 tonnes. n
