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Aurizon Holdings Limited

Aurizon intermodal rail service passing throughWallan, Victoria in April 2024
Formerly	QR National Limited
Company type	Government-owned corporation (2004-2010) Publicly traded company (2010-present)
Traded as	ASX: AZJ
Industry	Rail transport
Founded	2004; 21 years ago (2004)
Headquarters	Brisbane , Australia
Area served	New South Wales Queensland South Australia Victoria Western Australia Northern Territory
Key people	Chairman: Tim Poole CEO: Andrew Harding
Products	Coal,bulk, andcontainerisedfreight
Services	Logistics,supply chain management, line haul, andterminal operations
Revenue	AUD$3.844 billion (2024)
Net income	AUD$406 (2024)
Number of employees	4,883 (2020)[1]
Divisions	Network, Coal, Bulk, Containerised Freight
Website	aurizon.com.au

Aurizon Holdings Limited (/əˈraɪzən/ə-RY-zən)^[2][3] is afreight rail transport company in Australia, formerly namedQR National Limited and brandedQR National. In 2015, it was the world's largest rail transporter of coal from mine to port.^[4] Formerly aQueensland Government-owned corporation, it was privatised and floated on theAustralian Securities Exchange (ASX) in November 2010.^[5] The company was originally established in 2004-05 when the coal, bulk and container transport divisions ofQueensland Rail were brought under one banner as QR National.

In 2019, the company operated in fiveAustralian states. On an average day, it moved more than 700,000 metric tons (690,000 long tons) of coal, iron ore, other minerals, agricultural products and general freight, equating to more than 250 million tonnes annually. Aurizon also managed the 2670 kilometre (1660 mi)-longCentral Queensland coal network that links mines to coal ports atBowen,Gladstone andMackay. It was the largest haulier of iron ore outside thePilbara.^[6]

In 2021, a major corporate change was foreshadowed when Aurizon sought to acquire rail operatorOne Rail Australia. The corporate regulator, theAustralian Competition and Consumer Commission, approved the sale subject to One Rail Australia's coal-haulage business in New South Wales and Queensland beingdivested.^[7] Aurizon's purchase of One Rail Australia's assets not subject to divestiture occurred in July 2022.^[8] Divestiture of the remaining assets occurred on sale toMagnetic Rail Group on 17 February 2023.^[9]

The company in 2023 was Australia's largest rail-based transport business, transporting more than 250 million tonnes (246 million long tons) of commodities per year.^[10]

The QR National brand was established in the 2004-05 financial year whenQueensland Rail's coal, bulk and containerised business units were brought under one banner.^{[citation needed]}

The company's major traffic at the time was coal, both for export and domestic power generation, in Queensland.^[11] In 2005, QR National started to operate export coal services in theNew South WalesHunter Valley.^[12] By 2008, its operations extended across the entire mainland other than theNorthern Territory when their firstMelbourne–Perthintermodal container service started.^[13] In August 2008, QR National took over the operation of Melbourne–Horsham container service for Wimmera Container Line, afterPacific National withdrew its service.^[14]

In 2009, the Queensland Government announced thatQueensland Rail's commercial activities were to be separated from the government's core passenger service responsibilities, formed into a new company named QR National Limited, andprivatised.^[15][16][17] The new company was incorporated the following year, taking:

• the coal business in Queensland and New South Wales
• regional freight business in Queensland
• bulk mineral and grain haulage in Queensland and Western Australia
• containerised freight between Cairns, Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth.^[18]

QR National obtained a 99-year lease over the 2300 kilometres (1400 miles) Queensland coal network, comprising:^[19]

• theBlackwater system around thePort of Gladstone
• theGoonyella system around the Port of Hay Point and Dalrymple Bay
• the Moura line to the Port of Gladstone, which transports coal from Moura Mine and Boundary Hill Mine
• the Newlands line toPort of Abbot Point, which transports coal fromNewlands coal mine, Sonoma Mine,Collinsville coal mine andCarmichael coal mine

On acquiring the lease, QR National became responsible for the maintenance of the coal lines.^{[citation needed]}

Therolling stock workshops atRedbank,Rockhampton andTownsville were included in the privatisation.^[20]

The float took place in November 2010.^[21]

In August 2021, Aurizon signed a six year agreement withCBH Group (with two options to extend for a further two years) to provide rail haulage services for their grain trains.^[22][23] Although scheduled to transition in May 2022, all parties agreed to bring the handover date forward to September 2021.^[24][25] Aurizon had already been informally providing rail haulage services in theGeraldton region since mid-2021.^{[citation needed]}.^{[citation needed]}

In February 2022, Aurizon commenced a five-year contract to haul mineral sands fromBroken Hill toKwinana forTronox, to be extended 320 km east toIvanhoe, where a new loading facility has been constructed.^[26]

Following a vote by its shareholders, in 2012 QR National was rebranded as Aurizon.^[27][28] The CEO at the time, Lance Hockridge, said the new name derived from the wordsAustralia andhorizon. Marketers opined that the name was "a nearly perfect example of all that can go wrong with a rebranding" and that it was "a classic case of people making a weird hybrid name to try and make it unique and interesting so that people will remember it. This is not true: people don't remember made-up words."^[29]

In 2005, QR National incorporated a subsidiary,Interail, which had been acquired in 2002 and operated in New South Wales.^[30][31]

In the same year, QR National acquired logistics companyCRT Group, for which it already provided line haulage.^[32][33]

In 2006, QR National acquiredAustralian Railroad Group (ARG), which operated inNew South Wales,South Australia andWestern Australia.^[34][35][36] ARG remained a separate subsidiary operation until it was rebranded as QR National in 2011.^{[citation needed]}

In 2007, the company acquired the Golden Bros Group.^[37]

In 2019, after aFederal Court judgement, Aurizon's intermodal and trucking business was acquired byLinfox forA$7.3 million.^[38][39]

In October 2021, Aurizon agreed terms to purchaseOne Rail Australia.^[40] The transaction was approved in July 2022 by theAustralian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) after the commission accepted Aurizon's court-enforceable undertaking to dispose of the seller'sHunter Valley coal haulage and Queensland coal haulage business to maintain competition levels. The ACCC Chair, Gina Cass-Gottlieb, said: "We are also satisfied that the divestment of One Rail's east coast business would preserve it as a potential competitor to Aurizon for the supply of non-coal bulk rail haulage in the future, and Aurizon would continue to be constrained by a number of existing bulk rail haulage competitors.”^[41][42][43] The sale was completed on 29 July 2022,^{[44][45]: 7} and Aurizon took over One Rail Australia's South Australian, Northern Territory and interstate operations the following day under the brand, "Aurizon Bulk Central".^[46]

In December 2022, Aurizon agreed to an offer byMagnetic Rail Group Pty Ltd to purchase the divested assets.^[47] The buyer was to pay about $A425 million ($US284.3 million) – the equity value of the east coast business – and assume existing debt facilities, which originally totalled $A500 million. Proceeds$, A125 million of which was to be deferred for 12 months, would be used initially to reduce Aurizon's debt and would form part of Aurizon's available capital.^[48] After the ACCC gave regulatory approval, the sale was completed on 17 February 2023.^[49]

As Aurizon's infrastructure was a monopoly, it was subject in 2018 to regulation by government organisations including theQueensland Competition Authority. Aurizon disputed the price that it should be allowed to charge its clients – for example when the Authority used a lowerweighted average cost of capital that did not account for the risk that clean energy poses to fossil fuel.^[50]

On 20 February 2023, Aurizon announced it had re-entered the interstate intermodal market on being awarded aA$1.8 billion 11-year contract withTeam Global Express (formerlyToll Global Express) – the largest non-coal contract in the history of the company. The company stated that services would begin in April 2023 and that by April 2024, five weekly services would run east–west (Melbourne–Sydney–Adelaide–Perth); two would run north–south (Brisbane–Sydney–Melbourne).^[51][52] The first revenue service of this contract departed Melbourne for Perth on 8 April.^{[citation needed]}

In March 2023, Aurizon andViterra proposed that theAustralian federal government supply A$220 million in funding to repair and upgrade theEyre Peninsula Railway lines. The proposal included re-opening the Port Lincoln–Wudinna and Cummins-Kimba lines and upgrading the outloading facilities at Viterra's Lock, Wudinna, Cummins, Kimba and Rudall sites. An annual target of at least 1.3 million tonnes of grain haulage was estimated. Aurizon and Viterra planned to have the network reopened within 12 months if funding were approved.^[53][54]

In February 2023, Aurizon inaugurated two Melbourne–Perth containerised freight services and in September 2023 a weekly return container service on theMelbourne-Sydney–Brisbane corridor in collaboration with its customer,Team Global Express.^[55]

On 23 February 2022, as part of the2022 eastern Australia floods, freight train Y279 derailed at approximately 3:30am due to flash flooding that had resulted in a track washout at the 149.020km point just south of Traveston.^[56]

Class	Image	Type	Top speed (km/h)	Built	Number	Business unit	Use and area of operation	Notes
1435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in)Standard gauge fleet
5000 class		Diesel-electric	80	2005–2007	12	Aurizon	Hunter Valley coal
5020 class		Diesel-electric	80	2010–2014	25	Aurizon	Hunter Valley coal	Improved version of5000 class
6000 class		Diesel-electric	115	2009	12	Aurizon	Hunter Valley coal	Ex QR National.
6020 class		Diesel-electric	115	2012	9	Aurizon	Hunter Valley coal	6022, 6023 & 6025 allocated to Bulk Central/Intermodal
6040 class		Diesel-electric	115	2017–2018	5	Aurizon	Hunter valley coal
422 class		Diesel-electric	115	1969–1970	7	Aurizon Bulk Central/West	South Australia/Northern Territory/Western Australia	4 ExOne Rail Australia 3 Stored at Forrestfield Aurizon
ALF/ALZ class		Diesel-electric	115	1976	8	Aurizon Bulk Central	South Australia/Northern Territory	1 ExAustralian Railroad Group, Scrapped. 7 ExOne Rail Australia
AC class		Diesel-electric	115	2009	8	Aurizon Bulk Freight West	Western Australia	ExAustralian Railroad Group
ACB class		Diesel-electric	115	2011	6	Aurizon Bulk Freight West	Western Australia	ExAustralian Railroad Group
ACC class		Diesel-electric	115	2013	3	Aurizon Bulk Freight West	Western Australia	ACC6032 Allocated to Bulk Central/Intermodal
ACD class		Diesel-electric	115	2022-2023	15	Aurizon Bulk Central	NSW, Interstate mineral sands	ACD6041 - ACD6047 & ACD6050 - ACD6055 allocated to Intermodal
CF class		Diesel-electric	115	2012–2013	2	Aurizon	Hunter Valley coal	ExCFCL Australia
CLF class		Diesel-electric	115	1970	2	Aurizon Bulk Central	South Australia/Northern Territory	ExOne Rail Australia
CLP class		Diesel-electric	115	1970	4	Aurizon Bulk Central	South Australia/Northern Territory	ExOne Rail Australia
J class		Diesel-electric	62	1966	3	Aurizon Bulk Central	Northern Territory - Alice Springs	ExOne Rail Australia 2x Former Alice Springs Shunt Locos, now stored in Dry Creek with mechanical troubles and vandalism damage from Alice Springs
G class		Diesel-electric	115	1981-1989	2	Aurizon Bulk Central	South Australia/Northern Territory	ExOne Rail Australia
GM class		Diesel-electric	115	1965-1967	9	Aurizon Bulk Central	South Australia/Northern Territory	ExOne Rail Australia
GWA class		Diesel-electric	115	2011-2012	9	Aurizon Bulk Central	South Australia/Northern Territory	ExOne Rail Australia
GWB class		Diesel-electric	115	2019-2022	6	Aurizon Bulk Central	South Australia/Northern Territory	3 exOne Rail Australia, 3 delivered to Aurizon.
GWU class		Diesel-electric	115	2020-2021	4	Aurizon Bulk Central	South Australia/Northern Territory	ExOne Rail Australia
L class		Diesel-electric	115	1967	1	Aurizon Bulk Freight West	Western Australia	ExAustralian Railroad Group, 1 stored
LQ class		Diesel-electric	115	1967	2	Aurizon Bulk Freight West	Western Australia	1 ExAustralian Railroad Group, 1 exInterail, stored atAvon Yard
LZ class		Diesel-electric	115	1967	6	Aurizon Bulk Freight West	Western Australia	ExAustralian Railroad Group
Q class		Diesel-electric	115	1997	23	Aurizon Bulk Freight West	Western Australia	ExAustralian Railroad Group 4 ExOne Rail Australia (FQ Class)
3200 class		Diesel-electric	100	1995–1998	3	Aurizon	New South Wales	Regauged from3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) gauge
Queensland1067 mm (3 ft 6 in) narrow-gauge fleet
1720 class		Diesel-electric	80	1966–1970	28	Aurizon	General freight and shunting	16 other units sold to South Africa in 2012, 8 stored
2000 class		Railmotor	80	1960–1970	2	Aurizon Network	Queensland network track inspections	Nos. 2004 and 2032
2100 class		Diesel-electric	80	1970–1984	53	Aurizon	General freight and minerals	5 other units transferred to Western Australia as the DD class (see below), 4 other units sold toTasRail in 2011, 3 to South Africa in 2012, 2 stored for parts
2300 class		Diesel-electric	100	1997–2002	51	Aurizon	General freight and minerals, 7 other units in Western Australia as DFZ class (see below)	Rebuilt from1550 class
2400 class		Diesel-electric	100	1977–1980	38	Aurizon	General freight and minerals	18 converted to2300 class 1 stored
2700 class		Diesel-electric	110	2019–present	6 in service	Aurizon	General freight and minerals	These locomotives are dubbed the Super Clyde. These are rebuilt from older locomotives.
2800 class		Diesel-electric	100	1995–1998	46	Aurizon	General freight and minerals	3 other units onstandard gauge (see above), 1 other unit in Western Australia as PA class (see below)
4000 class		Diesel-electric	100	2000–2005	49	Aurizon Coal	Blackwater and Moura coal networks	4020 scrapped
4100 class		Diesel-electric	100	2007–2012	56	Aurizon Coal	Blackwater, Moura and Newlands coal networks	Originally 75 units, 19 units transferred to Western Australia as ACN class
3100/3200 class		Electric	80	1986–1989	15	Aurizon Coal	Bowen Basin	63 rebuilt as 3700 class (see below), 4 other units sold to South Africa in 2012–2013, Remaining units scrapped during May and June 2016
3300/3400 class		Electric	80	1994–1995	13	Aurizon Coal	Blackwater coal network	Stored
3500/3600 class		Electric	80	1986–1988	68	Aurizon Coal	Goonyella coal network	15 stored
3551 class		Electric	80	2003–2004	14	Aurizon Coal	Blackwater coal network	Rebuilt from3900 class
3700 class		Electric	80	2005–2007	63	Aurizon Coal	Goonyella and Blackwater coal networks	Rebuilt from3100/3200 class
3800 class		Electric	80	2008–2010	45	Aurizon Coal	Goonyella and Blackwater coal networks
3900 class		Electric	100	1988-90	11	Aurizon Coal	Blackwater coal network	Stored
Western Australia1067 mm (3 ft 6 in) narrow-gauge fleet
A class		Diesel-electric	100	1960	1	Aurizon Bulk Freight West	Western Australia	ExAustralian Railroad Group, 1 other unit exported to South Africa in January 2015.
AB class		Diesel-electric	100	1970	2	Aurizon Bulk Freight West	Western Australia	ExAustralian Railroad Group. 2 other units exported to South Africa in January 2015.
ACN class		Diesel-electric	100	2011–2012	19	Aurizon Bulk Freight West	Western Australia	Originally part of4100 class, transferred to Western Australia and retained their original numbers
D class		Diesel-electric	100	1971	1	Aurizon Bulk Freight West	Western Australia	ExAustralian Railroad Group, 1 other unit exported to South Africa in January 2015.
DA class		Diesel-electric	100	1971	3	Aurizon Bulk Freight West	Western Australia	ExAustralian Railroad Group
DAZ class		Diesel-electric	100	1971	1	Aurizon Bulk Freight West	Western Australia	ExAustralian Railroad Group, 5 other units exported to South Africa in January 2015.
DB class		Diesel-electric	100	1982	5	Aurizon Bulk Freight West	Western Australia	ExAustralian Railroad Group
DBZ class		Diesel-electric	100	1982	5	Aurizon Bulk Freight West	Western Australia	ExAustralian Railroad Group
DD class		Diesel-electric	100	1970–1984	5	Aurizon Bulk Freight West	Western Australia	Converted from2100 class
DFZ class		Diesel-electric	100	1971	7	Aurizon Bulk Freight West	Western Australia	Converted from2300 class
P class		Diesel-electric	100	1989–1991	13	Aurizon Bulk Freight West	Western Australia	ExAustralian Railroad Group
PA class		Diesel-electric	100	1996	1	Aurizon Bulk Freight West	Western Australia	Converted from2800 class
S class		Diesel-electric	90	1996	11	Aurizon Bulk Freight West	Western Australia	ExAustralian Railroad Group
South Australia1067 mm (3 ft 6 in) narrow-gauge fleet
830 class		Diesel-electric	121	1960-1966	5	Aurizon Bulk Central	Thevenard, South Australia	ExOne Rail Australia, all stored. Last 2 operational units placed into storage April 2023 with the arrival of two 2300 class from Queensland
900 class		Diesel-electric	121	1960-1966	7	Aurizon Bulk Central	Thevenard, South Australia	ExOne Rail Australia, all stored. Rebuilt from 830 and NSW 48 class locomotives. Last 3 operational units placed into storage April 2023 with the arrival of two 2300 class from Queensland
1200 class		Diesel-electric	100	1960-1967	2	Aurizon Bulk Central	Thevenard, South Australia	ExOne Rail Australia, ex WAGR A class. Stored serviceable as backup units for the Gypsum train
1300 class		Diesel-electric	Unknown	1956-1965	4	Aurizon Bulk Central	Whyalla, South Australia	ExOne Rail Australia, ex BHP Whyalla DE Class
1600 class		Diesel-electric	Unknown	1971	3	Aurizon Bulk Central	Thevenard, South Australia	ExOne Rail Australia, formerly the NJ class. 3 stored, 2 stored serviceable as backup locos for the 2300 class in Thevenard.
2250 class		Diesel-electric	100	2004	5	Aurizon Bulk Central	Whyalla, South Australia	ExOne Rail Australia, repatriated from South Africa in 2019 and owned by Aurizon beforehand.
2300 class		Diesel-electric	100	1997–2002	2	Aurizon Bulk Central	Thevenard, South Australia	2332 and 2364 trucked to Thevenard in March 2023. Both entered service on 13/04/2023.
CK class		Diesel-electric	100	1967-1968	4	Aurizon Bulk Central	Whyalla, South Australia	ExOne Rail Australia, former Victorian Railways T class

Details of Aurizon's former^[when?] fleet are as follows:

Class	Image	Type	Gauge	Top speed (km/h)	Built	Number	Business unit	Use and area of operation	Notes
421 class		Diesel-electric	Standard	115	1965–1966	5	Aurizon	Intermodal freight, grain	ExInterail, 4 stored
423 class		Diesel-electric	Standard	112	1967–1969	6	Aurizon	Intermodal freight,Hunter Valley Coal, Grain	RenumberQR 1502 NSW.
500 class		Diesel-electric	Standard	80	1964	1	Aurizon	Shunting, South Australia	ExAustralian Railroad Group; donated toSteamRanger in October 2010
830 class		Diesel-electric	Narrow	115	1963	1	Aurizon Bulk Freight West	Western Australia	ExAustralian Railroad Group; sold toJunee Railway Workshop in 2012
1600 class		Diesel-electric	Narrow	80	1971	2	Aurizon Bulk Freight West	Western Australia	ExAustralian Railroad Group; exported to South Africa in 2015
2600 class		Diesel-electric	Narrow	100	1983	13	Aurizon	Queensland coal and minerals	Exported to South Africa in 2012
LDP class		Diesel-electric	Standard	115	2009	9	Aurizon	Interstate intermodal	Leased fromDowner EDI Rail' later returned
2250 class		Diesel-electric	Narrow	100	2004–2007	25	Aurizon	General freight and minerals	Rebuilt from2100 class and1550 class. All sold to South Africa 2014–2015; five bought back byGWA to operate in South Australia in 2019 - these are now owned by Aurizon again.

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