Port Botany rail upgrade commissioned

    • Major signalling infrastructure commissioned over holiday period
    • More efficient rail network to promote modal shift into Port Botany
    • Complements Southern Sydney Freight Line opened in Dec 2012
    • Strategic investment to increase volume of freight on rail to and from the nation’s second busiest container port

The Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) successfully commissioned the last sections of the Port Botany Rail Line upgrade (Stage Two) over the holiday period, meaning a more efficient and reliable rail network for freight heading in and out of the Port, ARTC Executive General Manager – Interstate, Peter Winder, announced today.

The final part of the $145 million project, funded by the Australian Government, delivered the major signalling components required to bring the entire project, including the Enfield Staging Yards, to full capability.

By replacing the signalling that was nearing its end of life, with ARTC infrastructure, it finalises the separation of the ARTC metropolitan freight network from the Sydney Trains network.

“Commissioning of this project is a great outcome for our customers and a big step toward supporting rail freight movements in and out of Port Botany,” Mr Winder said.

“Only 14 per cent of Port Botany freight travels by rail, so projects like this are imperative to supporting modal shift, which is not only good for freight and the nation’s competitiveness, but the whole of Sydney as road congestion compounds around the Port precinct.”

Collectively, the upgrade increases capacity, reduces congestion, enhances efficiency and streamlines operations.

The Port Botany Rail Line Upgrade, Stage Two, project included:

  • Major reconfiguration and signalling of Port Botany rail yard, which is the interface between ARTC’s rail network and the stevedores, reducing congestion and increasing capacity
  • A train staging area at Enfield, to hold and re-sequence trains away from the Port
  • Additional signalling to effectively extend double tracks from Cooks River to Mascot
  • Complete separation of signalling systems from Sydney Trains passenger operations
  • Dedicated network control with ARTC, operated from its Junee Control Centre.

“With nearly 40 per cent of export containers sourced outside of Sydney, this freight is suited to a rail journey, and by delivering projects like this, we are strengthening rail’s claim to demand more of the freight task,” Mr Winder said.

“ARTC provides an efficient, one-stop-shop for freight rail customers, including export-import freight.”

The project complements the Southern Sydney Freight Line, completed in December 2012, and metropolitan freight network upgrades. This dedicated freight line to Port Botany eliminates transit time delays that were previously in place due to freight rail curfews.

The Northern Sydney Freight Corridor program, a joint Australian and NSW Government initiative, will strengthen Sydney’s rail freight capacity and reliability even further.

Final works to close off the Port Botany project are expected to be complete by mid-2015.

ENDS

Media Contact: Bas Bolyn, ARTC, 0477 340 658

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