New $7.73 million Leeville Viaduct opened by ARTC on North Coast Rail Line

A new rail bridge that will cut 3 to 4 minutes off the Brisbane- Sydney rail train transit time and allow the lifting of a 10 year old 40 kph speed restriction on the North Coast rail line has now commenced full operation.

The new $7.73 million Leeville rail viaduct is a 505 metre long construction and spans the flood plain at Leeville, 10 kms south of Casino. It replaces the old viaduct on the same alignment that was built in 1925.

“All operating restrictions including the 40 kph speed restriction imposed in 1997 have been lifted providing for the continuation of full mainline speed of up to 120 kph for all trains travelling across the viaduct.” David Marchant Chief Executive of ARTC said.

” The new viaduct at Leeville forms part of ARTC’s $200 million upgrade of the North Coast Line which is targeted at reducing transit times between Sydney and Brisbane by nearly 4 hours and bringing increased efficiency and capacity in moving freight by rail” Mr Marchant said.

Transit times for superfreighters between Sydney and Brisbane are estimated to reduce from 19 hours 22 minutes to 15 hours 30 minutes.

The viaduct’s unique design enabled construction to take place during existing time windows between trains on the line with zero impact on train schedules and for train operators. The new ballast top structure viaduct will require minimal maintenance and has a design life of 100 years.

ARTC with support of the Australian government is investing in excess of $2 billion on the North-South (Melbourne to Brisbane) and Hunter Valley rail networks.

ARTC with its alliance partner TEJV, a partnership between Laing O’Rourke Australia and Balfour Beatty Australia, commenced the total replacement of the rail viaduct in November last year.

27 July 2007

Contact : David Marchant 0419 733 201

Prue Regan 02 8259 0716 or 0419 297 004

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