Leighton wins $56m Wiggins Island rail contract

Valued at $56m, the contract is for civil works facilitating track duplication between Rocklands and Stanwell near Rockhampton, one of six work sites for Stage One of the Wiggins Island Rail Project.

QR network executive vice president, Michael Carter, said “This particular segment involves 18km of track duplication between Rocklands and Stanwell on the Blackwater system as well as the construction of three rail bridges at the Burnett Highway, Four Mile Creek and Neerkol Creek.”

The six major worksites for Stage One of the project are Rocklands to Stanwell Duplication, the WICET Balloon Loop, Dingo to Bluff Duplication, Moura East upgrade, North Coast Line upgrade and Bauhinia North Branch upgrade.

“As part of Stage One of the project the entire Blackwater system will be duplicated, enabling longer coal trains of up to 1.7km and more frequent services along the track,” Carter said.

The rail project will carry the initial 27mtpa of coal to Wiggins Island Coal Export Terminal. QR recently awarded a $76m contract to Abigroup to complete civil works on the 13km WICET balloon loop, which facilitates unloading at the Port of Gladstone.