The main rail line between Melbourne and Sydney is going to be closed for 60 hours this weekend, as essential maintenance and improvement works set to be undertaken to improve safety and reliability.
Key to these improvements will be the replacement of 10 kilometres of rail, resleepering, structure repairs and track reconditioning works.
Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) Group of Operations representative Clinton Crump says discussions have been undertaken to limit the impact of the closure on freight and passenger trains.
“Regular maintenance and upgrades to the Sydney to Melbourne railway line builds the reliability of this nationally important infrastructure and delivers smoother and safer rides for rail passengers,” Crump says.
“ARTC has worked with rail operators to minimise disruptions to passenger services and the freight industry between our largest cities and through to Parkes.
“ARTC would like to than the communities along the alignment for their patience while these critical, long-term improvements take place.
“I would also like to acknowledge the many hard-working rail workers who will be undertaking these works.”
The railway line will be closed as follows:
- Between Enfield and Mona Vale in NSW from 11pm on Friday September 13 to 5am Monday September 16.
- Between Moss Vale in NSW and McIntyre in Victoria and between Cootamundra and Parkes in NSW from 6am Saturday September 14 to 6pm Monday September 16.
Road users are also urged to remain vigilant to altered traffic conditions near the rail corridor and obey all signs and road rules at level crossings, with rail machinery and freight train movements still occurring on the adjacent rail line.
Information on road closures, diversions and alternative routes can be found at livetraffic.com and VicTraffic.
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