The government of Queensland has announced that it intends to push ahead with QR National's public float despite coal companies' offers to purchase the coal rail network.

Ahead of privatization, QR National has separated today from the passenger services of Queensland Rail.

However, passenger services will stay in the public sector.

Rachel Nolan, minister of transport, says that the offer from the conglomerate of coal firms is short on details.

"We have sought some further information from the coal companies about exactly what they're talking about, but frankly the offer at this stage is quite thin in its detail," Ms. Nolan said.

"So it does remain Government's intention to float at the end of this year."

Ms. Nolan adds that 9,000 employees will now work for QR National.

"From today there won't be a great deal of change in the feel of the organisations for those people," she added.

"People for instance at the Redbank railway workshops will turn up to work today and the organisation will feel the same, but they will be in a different entity called QR National."

However, Owen Dogan, spokesman for RTBU (Rail Tram and Bus Union), says industrial action cannot be ruled out.

"We will be continuing with a campaign to oppose privatisation," he remarked.

"There are rallies planned throughout Queensland in the next two to three weeks about that let us keep our railways.

"We keep sending the message to [Premier] Anna Bligh the people of Queensland do not want to lose their railways."