Mines affected by the closure of the Blackwater system included Kestrel, Gregory, Curragh, Minerva and Cook as well as Jellinbah, East, Blackwater and Ensham.

The big Rolleston dragline operation, which can produce up to 8 million tonnes per annum run-of-mine, was not only inundated by the recent wet weather but its 110-kilometre link to the Blackwater line suffered serious damage.

QRN and Xstrata have set up a joint project team for this recovery work.

Xstrata hopes to rail Rolleston coal before the end of February, according to a company spokesperson.

Flood-hit sections of the Blackwater line were reopened at 6pm last night, allowing mines from Burngrove, near the town of Blackwater, to make deliveries east to Gladstone.

All four of QRN’s coal rail networks are open but all branches of the Blackwater rail system are not yet operational, and there are speed restrictions in other networks since the floods.

The northern Gregory branch of the Blackwater system is scheduled to be reopened on Monday, while repairs to track sections west of Burngrove should be completed the following day.

QRN said this would allow Sojitz Coal Resources’ Minerva mine to start railing coal.

But the rail operator warned these track openings to the north and west of Burngrove depended on no further heavy rain events occurring.

“Our crews have done an extraordinary job in recovering track across the coal network in the aftermath of unprecedented floods across Queensland,” QRN managing director and chief executive Lance Hockridge said.

“We’ve mobilised an enormous amount of expertise, equipment and people resources to get services back as soon as possible.

“In general, the network has endured well through these incredible floods. The majority of recovery work has been confined to stabilising the formation on which the rail sits, realigning the track in some locations and replacing ballast that has been scoured by the floodwaters.

“Our continuing focus now will be working closely with our mining customers and with all players across the supply chain to maximise coal tonnages in coming days, weeks and months.”

Gladstone Ports Corporation CEO Leo Zussino revealed that the planned throughput for the reopened Blackwater line was 100,000 tonnes of coal per day – about half the rate before the wet season.

“With the Moura rail line open and the Dawson, Callide and Boundary Hill mines railing coal, the port of Gladstone can now start ramping up our export capacity,” he said.

“Based on supply chain delivery, we would expect to be able to load around 2 million tonnes of coal this month with the port reaching full capacity by the end of March.”

There are 10 vessels at anchor while another six are due to arrive at the port next week.

Zussino said the stockpile was just over a critical low of 300,000t yesterday.