Rail freight operator Aurizon expects an earnings hit of as much as $115 million due to damage and lower haulage volumes caused by Cyclone Debbie.
The company said three of the four rail routes that make up its central Queensland Coal Network have reopened since last month's tropical cyclone and are operating under restricted conditions, with some reduced capacity.
The remaining Goonyella coal system route, which connects into Hay Point Coal Terminal and Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminal, is likely to open earlier than expected, by April 26.
Aurizon expects lower coal haulage of 190 to 200 million tonnes in the 2016/17 financial year, and earnings to be impacted by an estimated $30 million to $35 million.
Volume impacts and network repair costs will result in an additional earnings shortfall of $70 to $80 million, it said.
Aurizon lowered its full-year earnings guidance to $800 million to $850 million, from $900 million to $950 million.
Nonetheless, it said between $70 million and $80 million will be recovered through regulatory processes.
Shares in the company dropped as much as 4.6 per cent after they came out of a brief trading halt, and recovered some ground to close eight cents lower, or 1.5 per cent, at $5.21.
