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Maintenance work to ensure the safety and reliability of third busiest railway network in Australia will take place throughout the Hunter Valley coal chain next week.
The network-wide maintenance shutdown means limited train operations to allow multi-million-dollar packages of work to be delivered in a safe and efficient way at dozens of worksites across the region.
“By ‘closing down’ the network and with fewer trains running we can ensure we get the maximum amount of rail maintenance done more efficiently; but, above all else, it helps provide the safest possible environment for workers,” said ARTC’s Executive General Manager – Hunter Valley, Jonathan Vandervoort.
Nearly 1,000 ARTC and contract staff will be in the rail corridor during next week’s three-day shutdown from 6am Tuesday 14 July until late Thursday evening, 16 July.
The rail shutdowns are an important part of the coal chain calendar, allowing work to take place throughout the Hunter Valley from the Port to Narrabri and from Muswellbrook to Ulan.
“These shutdowns are planned more than a year in advance to allow customers to manage their throughput and production schedules and to ensure integration across the intricately managed Hunter coal chain,” Mr Vandervoort said.
“Unfortunately, with work of this scale there will be some disruption and we would like to ask motorists and members of the community to be aware of changed traffic conditions and heavy work vehicles entering and exiting sections of the rail corridor.
“We would like to thank the community for their patience and understanding while the works take place as we appreciate it will be causing some inconvenience.”
The next major, network-wide maintenance shutdown will be between 18-20 August.
There are changes to passenger rail services, for specific service information on passenger rail operations, please visit www.nswtrainlink.info or www.sydneytrains.info.
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Media Contact: Bas Bolyn, ARTC, 0477 340 658