EXTREME WEATHER IMPACTING ARTC NETWORK: UPDATE 3
Hunter Valley
The ARTC’s Hunter Valley coal network is expected to reopen tomorrow afternoon with services suspended due to the extreme weather and flooding experienced in NSW over the last two days.
The reopening remains contingent on improved weather conditions and receding water levels which continue to hamper repair works.
North Coast
The ARTC network along the mid-North Coast around Dungog remains closed and there is no current forecast for reopening.
Initial track inspections indicate more than 18 sites have experienced significant washaways or landslips and each will require significant reinstatement works.
Just one of these landslip sites includes a large embankment, approximately 8m high and 75m in length, washed out and across the rail line.
The high water has compounded the response task and 14 kilometres of track between Paterson and Telarah is either under water or still unable to be inspected due to flooding and access being closed off (both on foot and by road).
Given the nature and extent of the damage ARTC is mobilising a dedicated project team to coordinate the repair and recovery efforts required. Project planning and sourcing equipment, material, supplies and other resources is underway.
The damage to the rail line is believed to be worse than the impacts of the 2007 floods in the region.
The scale of the response and high water levels mean ARTC is unable to provide a forecast for a return to operations for this section of the network.
The Sydney Metropolitan Freight Network into Port Botany has also experienced widespread but localised surface flooding, however operations have been able to resume.
Passenger operations remain affected; customers are advised to refer to www.nswtrainlink.info and www.sydneytrains.info for up-to-date information.
ARTC will continue to provide further updates.
ENDS
Media Contact: Bas Bolyn, ARTC, 0477 340 658