Australian Rail Track Corporation - Press Releases

Ministerial release:
More Economic Stimulus Rail Projects Completed
09 Feb 2010

http://www.minister.infrastructure.gov. ... 3_2010.htm

A key milestone in the modernisation of the East West rail corridor has been reached with two new passing loops between Kalgoorlie and the Western Australia/South Australia border now completed.

Part of the Rudd Labor Government's Economic Stimulus Plan, each project involved the construction of a new 1,850 metre passing loop and turnouts as well as the laying of 3,000 new concrete sleepers and four kilometres of new track.

Federal Infrastructure and Transport Minister Anthony Albanese said the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) received $23 million to build four new passing loops as well as extend an existing loop on the line between Adelaide and Kalgoorlie - infrastructure able to cater for much longer trains of up to 1,500 metres (see attached map).

"In less than 12 months the ARTC has completed two projects, with work currently underway on another three," said Mr Albanese.

"As well as supporting jobs and businesses during the global recession, our Economic Stimulus Plan has been building the modern rail infrastructure vital to Australia's long term productivity and prosperity.

"The Rudd Labor Government will invest more in rail over the next 12 months than our predecessors did during their 12 years in office."

ARTC CEO David Marchant said the Corporation is pushing forward with its plans to upgrade the East West corridor and make rail more competitive, with the new passing loops expected to cut transit time and expand capacity on the line between Perth and Adelaide.

"As Australia recovers from fallout from the global recession we're determined to make the interstate rail network a value adding asset within the national transport logistics system. Already 80 per cent of the freight that moves between Australia's east and west coasts travels by rail," said Mr Marchant.

"The investment we're making in the East West corridor is also been good news for the wider community. Not only has it create jobs in the short term, it will also allow more freight to be transported by rail - which overtime means fewer trucks on our roads."

Every 1,500 metre train can carry as much freight as 100 semi-trailers.

The ARTC delivered the projects in partnership with Transfield Services.

Bridges officially opened as part of Minimbah Bank Third Rail Project
03 Mar 2010

A historic infrastructure milestone has been reached in the upgrade of the Hunter Valley rail network with the official opening today of bridges on the Golden Highway and at Range Road near Singleton as part of Australian Rail Track Corporation's (ARTC) Minimbah Bank Third Rail project.

The bridges were constructed as part of Stage 1 of the Australian Government funded $134 million project to upgrade the 32 km of line between Maitland to Whittingham, specifically designed to increase rail capacity by reducing the incline at the Minimbah bank.

As part of the overall aim of increasing rail capacity between the coalfields and the Port of Newcastle, the two bridges will also improve road safety through the elimination of level crossings and reduce fuel usage of trains due to the reduced incline.

Local Federal Member, Joel Fitzgibbon officially opened the bridges and explained that the Minimbah Bank Third Rail project will facilitate the more efficient movement of coal to the Port of Newcastle by improving the grade of the track.

"The Minimbah Bank Third Track project is primarily about boosting capacity on the rail corridor to allow more coal to be transported to the Port of Newcastle."

"Instead of a steep climb up Minimbah Bank, which slows down the trains, the new track will have a more gradual climb enabling trains to maintain better speeds, reducing journey times and increasing locomotive efficiency," Mr Fitzgibbon said.

"Importantly, this project has created local jobs. Local communities in the Hunter have benefited from the generation of more than 150 fulltime jobs during construction."

ARTC CEO David Marchant said the Minimbah Bank Third Track project is a key part of ARTC's ongoing plan to keep rail capacity ahead of market demand for Hunter Valley coal.

"At present, the Hunter Valley rail network coal capacity averages around 107 million tonnes per annum (mtpa). Current industry forecasts indicate demand on the Hunter Valley rail network will increase to 165 mtpa in 2010.

"ARTC is well into the process of implementing a strategy of line improvements designed to keep system capacity ahead of industry demands. The design and construction of the Minimbah Bank Third Track is a key component in meeting the objectives of this strategy," Mr Marchant said.

Background to Minimbah Bank Third Track project
Specifically the Project would widen the existing rail formation to accommodate the third track.

Minimbah Bank is one of only three sections of track on the Main Northern Railway, which for reasons of rail safety requires trains to maintain safe spacing of greater than 10 minutes (known as headway).

The steep grade (1:80) results in trains being unable to maintain sufficient speeds to keep a safe distance, creating the current headways of 13 minutes.

The slower speeds can cause disruptions to service, reduce the line capacity and increase rail wear.

By improving the grade of the rail, speed and efficiency of the rail line will be increased.

Major infrastructure elements included in the Project are as follows:

Approximately 10.8 km of track including turnouts, junctions and signalling;
Approximately 10.8 km of earthworks including drainage and minor structures;
A rail underbridge (major culvert) at the western end of the project route;
Grade separation of Range Road level crossing;
A new rail underbridge at Mudies Creek;
A new rail overbridge and associated road works at the Golden Highway; and
A retaining wall of approximately four metres in height and 540 metres in length to retain the third track fill batter from encroaching on the New England Highway road reserve.

Joint Media Statement
The Hon Anthony Albanese MP
Minister for Infrastructure, Transport,
Regional Development and Local Government David Marchant
Chief Executive Officer - ARTC
Economic Stimulus: Passing Loop At Coomandook Upgraded

The modernisation of the East West rail corridor continues unabated, with a multi-million upgrade of the passing loop at Coomandook on the line between Melbourne and Adelaide now completed.

Part of the Rudd Labor Government's Economic Stimulus Plan, the $4.5 million project involved extending the existing loop to cater for longer trains as well as laying new rail and sleepers and installing new signalling technology.

Federal Infrastructure and Transport Minister Anthony Albanese said in addition to the one near Coomandook, the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) received economic stimulus money to extend and upgrade another six passing loop on the line between Melbourne and Adelaide.

"As well as supporting jobs and businesses during the global recession, our Economic Stimulus Plan has been building the modern rail infrastructure vital to Australia's long term productivity and prosperity," said Mr Albanese.

"The Rudd Labor Government is investing more in rail over the next 12 months than our predecessors did during their 12 years in office."

ARTC CEO David Marchant said the modernisation of the East West corridor was progressing well, with completion of the seven new longer passing loops expected to further cut transit times, expand the line's capacity and make rail even more competitive.

"As Australia recovers from fallout from the global recession we're determined to make the interstate rail network a value adding asset within the national transport logistics system. Already 80 per cent of the freight that moves between Australia's east and west coasts travels by rail," said Mr Marchant.

"The investment we're making is also been good news for the wider community. Not only has it create jobs in the short term, it will also allow more freight to be transported by rail - which overtime means fewer trucks on our roads."

Every 1,500 metre train can carry as much freight as 100 semi-trailers.

The ARTC delivered the projects in partnership with Transfield Services.

Update: Derailment at Wittingham
15 Mar 2010

Repair and recovery work has continued ahead of schedule at the derailment site at Wittingham in the Hunter Valley.

Following the derailment of two locomotives and 8 empty wheat wagons, all derailed vehicles were clear of the track yesterday afternoon and work progressed well overnight.

Following stage one of track restoration, restricted train operations have commenced on the up main track using ‘Pilot Staff’ between Minimbah to Singleton.

At the same time, there will be Pilot Staff working in place from Minimbah to Saxonvale Junction on the Whittingham Branch. The down main line still out.

It is expected that there will be no more than one train per hour on both the branch and main lines.

The forecast is for the down main to return to service (including signals) at 1900hrs this evening.

It is expected that the section of rail will be fully restored just after midnight Tuesday 16th/Wednesday 17th March.

Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) has completed two major infrastructure projects that cut transit times between Melbourne and Sydney.


The two seven km passing lanes between Seymour and Melbourne, worth around $19 million each, are significant infrastructure investments, long enough to cater for 1800m trains passing each other at speed.
Specifically, the construction involved the laying of new track and concrete sleepers, new turnouts and new signalling infrastructure.
ARTC chief execuitve David Marchant said the new passing lanes represent significant investment in increasing capacity and reducing transit time between Melbourne and Sydney.
“ARTC is pushing forward with our plans to upgrade the Brisbane-Sydney-Melbourne corridor and make rail transport more competitive,” Marchant said.
“Passing lanes are significant pieces of infrastructure that allow trains carrying freight between capital cities to carry on at regular speed as they pass each other.
“This has an important roll on effect of reducing overall transit time on the North South line between Sydney and Melbourne.”
The passing lanes are “important milestones” in the strategy to cut the transit time from Melbourne to Sydney to as low as 10 hours 40 minutes and 15 hours 35 minutes between Sydney and Brisbane, Marchant said.
“The passing loops and lanes ARTC is constructing along the rail corridor, the new concrete sleepers, and the signal upgrades are, combined, perhaps the biggest rail project since the track was originally laid,” he said.
“The investment in this corridor upgrade will see rail becoming competitive, and as each 1500 metre long train can replace 100 semi trailers we could see less trucks on our major roads.”
The work was undertaken by ARTC’s partners in the South Improvement Alliance.