Parkes to Broken Hill rail upgrade commences

The Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) and its industry partner Transfield Services are to start work on the most extensive upgrade of the rail line to Parkes since it first opened in 1927.

The $253 million project to replace all the old timber and steel sleepers with new concrete sleepers started on Thursday, 27 January.

Over the next 15 months, more than one million new concrete sleepers will be used to rebuild the 691 kilometre line between Broken Hill and Parkes, with this material being sourced from factories in Wagga Wagga, Grafton and Braemar.

ARTC CEO David Marchant said the upgrade of the line between Broken Hill and Parkes forms part of the organisation’s ongoing efforts to improve the reliability and efficiency of the Whyalla-Sydney and Sydney-Melbourne corridors.

“The project will enable increased train axle loads from 25 tonnes at 80km/h or 23 tonnes at 100km/h, reduce maintenance and train operating costs, cut transit times and eliminate the need for temporary speed restrictions during the hotter summer months,” said Mr Marchant.

“The work will involve a team of about 100 workers and a mobile plant spread over an 8-kilometre stretch of track on a daily basis, progressively installing the new sleepers.

“Some 200,000 new concrete sleepers have already been delivered and have been stored in stacks along the rail corridor.

“The upgrade is good news for the wider community as well. Not only has the project generated jobs and provided a boost to the local economy, the new track will allow more freight to be transported by rail – which over time means fewer trucks on our roads.”

Other improvements to be undertaken as part of this multi-million upgrade include new turnouts, safer level crossings, improved drainage, and upgraded bridges and culverts.