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After more than six months in planning, the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) successfully delivered three major maintenance improvement projects between Melbourne and Adelaide over December and January, ARTC Executive General Manager – Interstate, Peter Winder said today.
The completed projects will collectively improve train running performance and reliability at key pinchpoints across the Melbourne to Adelaide rail freight corridor, Mr Winder said.
“While much of the country is on holiday, the December-January period is traditionally a very busy one for ARTC while we deliver major infrastructure improvement works across the country,” Mr Winder said.
“Pleasingly, all of the work was delivered safely and ran ahead of schedule, to allow our customers to keep moving as planned,” Mr Winder said.
ARTC’s Melbourne to Crystal Brook infrastructure team:
· Delivered 6446 metres of full width ballast cleaning between Maroona and Ararat, Victoria which also included improvement work to three level crossings and drainage improvements
· Installed two new turnouts between Newport and Tottenham in Melbourne
· Delivered a full level crossing upgrade at Park Terrace, Salisbury, South Australia
“The improved running performance mean operators have more flexibility in ensuring freight arrives at its destination, when needed, and the improved track condition means a far more consistent journey for all our customers,” Mr Winder said.
“A testament to the good work delivered was the double thumbs up the maintenance team received from the first freight train driver to pass through the freshly upgraded Maroona to Ararat section.”