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Another milestone has been reached in the upgrade of the Hunter Valley Coal rail lines that link to the Gunnedah basin, with the completion of a $24 million concrete resleepering project.
The project involved laying over 105,000 concrete sleepers on the rail line between Gunnedah and the Gap near Werris Creek and will significantly improve reliability on the line. ARTC delivered this project under an Alliance Contract with Rail Infrastructure Corporation, the owner of the line.
Australian Rail Track Corporation CEO David Marchant explained that the concrete resleepering and the improvement to rail alignment will lead to coal being transported more efficiently.
“Consistency in rail sleepers may not sound significant,” Mr Marchant said, “however it will mean a more reliable track and reduced transit times between the coal ports and the Gunnedah basin.”
“Specifically, the insertion of concrete sleepers will reduce the number of heat related temporary speed restrictions caused when wooden sleepers expand.”
“The completion of the 10 week resleepering project between Gunnedah and the Gap comes on the back of the recent dual tracking of the line between Antiene and Grasstree. These investments together will lead to a faster transit time for coal and passenger trains using the corridor,” Mr Marchant said.
“The concrete resleepering and other projects along the Hunter Valley coal line have provided a tangible economic boost to the region through new employment opportunities along with ARTC local purchases and equipment hire.”
“ARTC is quite proud of what has been achieved so far, and there’s more to come,” Mr Marchant said.