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• 6.30am Monday 20 November to 6.30am Friday 24 November 2017
• 528 kilometres of track
• More than 1000 dedicated staff and contractors
The Hunter Valley will again be the focus of attention next week when a major maintenance shutdown kicks off to complete the last round of essential rail maintenance works for the year.
The Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) will be carrying out track reconstruction, installing new rail, improving level crossings, cleaning ballast, tidying up the rail corridors and ensuring the signals are in peak performance.
“There will be two stages of works within the rail corridor,” said ARTC’s Jonathan Vandervoort, Group Executive of the Hunter Valley Network.
“Stage one is from Kooragang to Muswellbrook north. Stage two is from Muswellbrook to Narrabri.”
Hundreds of passenger and freight trains run on the ARTC network every week and safety is always the number one priority.
“We know that these works can be disruptive but we are very grateful for the support of the Hunter Valley community. We’d like to thank everyone for their patience while these important works are carried out”.
Mr Vandervoort also asked motorists to be alert at all times and advised that there are a number of road closures during the works.
“There will be trucks and other vehicles going in and out of the work sites. Please be vigilant so we can help keep everyone safe around worksites”.
ARTC also has a strong focus on innovation.
“We continue to look at ways to improve safety where there is people and machinery involved,” Mr Vandervoort said.
“For example, during our last maintenance shutdown, we trialled proximity safety devices which were fitted to a dump truck and an excavator – when workers came within a particular distance, an alert was sounded notifying the operator.”
For further information about our trackwork, visit our calendar which will give you an idea of the work that may be taking place in your area.
The next major maintenance works in the Hunter Valley are February 20 – 23 in 2018.
Passenger service customers are advised to visit www.nswtrainlink.info and www.sydneytrains.info regarding changes to passenger services. Some services are being bussed.
ENDS
Media contact: Bas Bolyn, ARTC, 0477 340 658
There are a number of road closures taking place during the works. Please open the media release associated with this story and refer to page 2 for specific details.