MELBOURNE -(Dow Jones)- Atlas Iron Ltd. (AGO.AU) and QR National Ltd. (QRN.AU, QRNNF) are expected to confirm in the coming days a partnership to develop an open-access railway that could open up access to export markets for numerous iron ore mines in Australia's arid Pilbara region, the Age reported Thursday.

The newspaper, without citing a source for the information, said Atlas and rail operator QR National are believed to be working on a feasibility study for a new railway, which has an initial aim of being able to carry ore to port by 2015.

It said QR National has pegged a possible route between the southeast Pilbara and Port Hedland, a development that could assist Atlas in developing its mining operations and increasing production to about 40 million metric tons a year from about 6 million tons.

Newspaper website: http://www.theage.com.au

-By Melbourne bureau; +61 3 9292 2094; djnews.sydney@dowjones.com