Work continues on $44.7million rail line upgrade

The $44.7 million upgrade of the 35-kilometre Narrabri to Turrawan railway corridor continues.

The Australian Rail Track Corporation has announced that work will be starting at several local sites in the coming weeks, and urged community caution as an increased number of vehicles move in and out of the work areas.

Once completed, the corridor will be capable of 25-tonne axle load trains travelling at 80kmh to replace the current ageing 20.5-tonne axle load track.

As part of the project, existing steel and timbers sleepers are being replaced with 55,000 heavy-duty concrete sleepers.

More than 82,000 tonnes of ballast is being used as a base for the new rail and sleepers.

The upgrade is being delivered from Narrabri Coal junction at Whitehaven Coal, south of Turrawan, to the future interface with Inland Rail at Narrabri North.

The major Narrabri-Turrawan development was originally announced by the former federal government and acting prime minister at the time, Michael McCormack, in December 2020.

The upgrade work is a further step in the project which began after a successful lobbying campaign by mayor Ron Campbell, the-then deputy mayor Cameron Staines and former general manager Stewart Todd with the support of federal Member for Parkes Mark Coulton.

ARTC said this week works will occur between 6pm Friday, August 4, and 9am Tuesday, August 8, and will involve site mobilisation, the delivery of materials, surveying, drainage works, re-sleepering, and re-railing the track.

“Further work is planned within the existing rail corridor between Narrabri Coal and Turrawan, with works occurring between 6am and 6pm over two weekends on August 12 and 13 and August 26 and 27.

“There will be works at several locations within the rail corridor at sites including Narrabri Station (Reid Street and Logan Street), Spencer Street, Narrabri and Turrawan Road, Turrawan,”

ARTC group executive, major construction projects Mike Zambelli said.

“ARTC will replace existing steel and timber sleepers with heavy duty concrete sleepers, replace the existing rail with upgraded rail, replacing ballast and conduct necessary earthworks for the project at various sites.

“Our work teams always endeavor to minimise any noise and disruptions the works may cause.

“As part of the works, road users may experience longer waits at the Fitzroy St level crossing in Narrabri for the duration of the works to allow for the enhancement works to be completed safely and efficiently as possible.

“We apologise for the inconvenience and as always we appreciate the patience and cooperation of motorists, commuters and customers.

“There are limited opportunities throughout the year when we can safely access the track, ARTC makes the most of these short windows to carry out jobs in a planned approach that minimises the impact of major works and reduces the potential for unplanned downtime.

“We also ask members of communities close to the rail corridor to be cautious during the shutdown period and keep an eye out for increased vehicle movements in and out of work sites.”