Queensland Premier Campbell Newman has suggested coal trains may eventually have to be covered to reduce dust exposure for people living along rail lines.

Mr Newman says he's taken notice of growing concerns about the increasing number of coal trains passing through urban areas.

"I think it's incumbent upon (the coal mines) to start to move to better forms of practice," Mr Newman told ABC Radio on Tuesday.

"There are chemicals, a type of solution they can spray after the wagon is loaded to try to stop dust ... but I think there's a time in the not-too-distant future where the community will be right to start to demand the wagons are closed."

Mr Newman also said there could be merit in other calls for the freight route to the Port of Brisbane to be changed to avoid dense populations.

He plans on discussing better practices with Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney and Environment Minister Andrew Powell.