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Australia’s busiest rail network outside of the Sydney and Melbourne suburban passenger networks will shut down for four days in early August to commission new track, undertake major capacity upgrade works and carry out routine maintenance.
ARTC’s Executive General Manager for the Hunter Valley Network, Alec MacKenzie, said trains would not operate on the Hunter Valley network from 6.00am Tuesday 7 August until 6.00am Saturday 11 August.
“We have in excess of 120 individual jobs being completed across the 800 kilometre Hunter Valley rail network over the four days.
“We will be making a lot of progress on our projects which are designed to increase the capacity of the Hunter Valley rail network and give us greater operational flexibility,” Mr MacKenzie said.
Some of the major capacity works include:
- Maitland to Minimbah third track project
– The first stage of the project will be completed in readiness for full
commissioning in November. - Nundah Bank Third Track (between Singleton and Camberwell)
– Installation of turnouts in preparation for November’s scheduled entry into
service. - Chilcotts Creek Loop
– Re-conditioning of 480metres of track and installation of culverts for
construction of the loop in preparation for entry into service in December. - Pages River Loop
– Installation of a culvert to complete civil works. - Bylong Loop Extension
– Installation of a turnout in preparation for entry into service in March 2013.
“These planned shutdowns not only allow ARTC to work network-wide but gives the entire coal chain, from pit to port, a clear window to schedule important maintenance,”
“In addition to work on these capacity building projects, we will be carrying out general track maintenance including rail grinding, tamping, track reconditioning and re-railing to maintain the safety and reliability of the track for passenger and freight trains,” Mr MacKenzie said.
The four day shutdown will also impact on CityRail passenger services. For more information about the bus replacement timetable, customers should go to www.cityrail.info