This new $1 billion plus rail connection could see coal from the Surat Basin region transported for export through the proposed Wiggins Island Coal Terminal.

The proposed Surat Basin Rail project is approximately 210 kilometres in length and starts on the Western Railway System near the township of Wandoan, (located 230 kilometres northwest of Toowoomba) and joins the Moura Railway System near the township of Banana (located 130 kilometres west of Gladstone). The project was often previously referred to as the “Southern Missing Link”.

The exact position of the rail corridor will be refined during the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) process produced by the proponents. Surat Basin Rail Pty Ltd is the proponent for the project and act on behalf of a consortium comprising ATEC (Dawson Valley Railway) Pty Ltd, IFM DVR Project Pty Ltd, QR Surat Basin Pty Ltd, Xstrata Coal Surat Basin Rail Pty Ltd, and Anglo Coal Australia Pty Ltd. The consortium was formed specifically to investigate the economic feasibility of developing the railway.