Floodwaters cut Mount Isa rail line

The rail line is closed between Townsville and the North West Minerals Province due to floodwaters between Charters Towers and Hughenden, including at Prairie. Queensland Rail regional head Jim Benstead said detailed track inspections in some areas could not take place until water had receded. "We will work to re-open the line as quickly as possible once if it safe to do so," he said. This image by Jodie Hunter of the incident at Prairie was shared on Facebook by NQ Employment Charters Towers. A Pacific National freight train came upon a washed out section of track at the Prairie Creek Rail Bridge early Sunday morning. Queensland Rail said the train was safely set back later that morning and all freight trains were accounted for and stabled in dry locations. The west-bound Inlander passenger train was held at Cloncurry on January 26 due to potential flooding on the network and customers were provided alternative transport to complete their journey to Mount Isa. Flinders Mayor Jane McNamara said most of the shire's roads, built on black soil, were closed after the wet weekend. The Flinders Highway to the east had been closed at times, as had the Kennedy Development Road. The Hughenden-Winton Road remained closed due to the impact of the rain on a detour section near Corfield, she said. She said the Flinders River at Hughenden had risen again this morning but was not expected to go over the Ernest Henry bridge. "Some of the properties (in Flinders Shire) have had in excess of 300mm in the last five days," Cr McNamara said. "That's fairly significant rain and there was one property last night that had over 200m in a 12-hour period down near Torrens Creek. That will create lots of issues." She said the region had been eagerly awaiting good rainfall. Unfortunately some areas in drought were still to see any relief, Cr McNamara said. "So we're still praying that they will get their fair share." The Burdekin region was among the other areas affected by flooding today, with Bruce Highway closed between Ayr and Home Hill due to flooding at Plantation Creek (pictured below). The Department of Transport and Main Roads urges motorists to keep checking www.qldtraffic.qld.gov.au for the latest information on road conditions and to plan their route. Update 5am Jan 29 - Severe weather warning At 5am Wednesday, a tropical low was located over the Gulf Country near Normanton. The Bureau of Meteorology says the low will begin to move to the southwest later today and should move out of Queensland this evening. Heavy rain, which may lead to flash flooding, is likely about the Gulf Country, southwestern Peninsula, North West, western Northern Goldfields and Upper Flinders, and far northern Channel Country districts. Damaging winds, with gusts greater than 90 km/h, are likely in the warning area. Flood watches and warnings are current for various areas in North Queensland - please check http://www.bom.gov.au/qld/warnings/ https://www.i-q.net.au/main/rain-welcomed-despite-delays

Floodwaters cut Mount Isa rail line

Industry Queensland

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