A CRITICAL rail freight link to Port Kembla is set to reopen next month after landslips damaged the track earlier this year.
The Moss Vale-Unanderra line closed on 9 March when heavy rains caused landslips and significant movement of some embankments, putting the line out of action.
The Australian Rail Track Corporation said it has been carrying out restoration works on the line since its closure and has confirmed it will reopen at 1200 on Tuesday 4 October.
Allan Jones, ARTC group executive Interstate Network, said the announcement of a reopening date is an important milestone for the corporation and rail users.
“We would like to thank our customers for their patience during the network shutdown, we appreciate the challenges the shutdown caused them, but we know that they understand that safety is our number one priority on our network.
“We would also like to extend our thanks to our contractor partners for helping us get these important works done in what were, at times, extremely challenging conditions.”
The Moss Vale-Unanderra line is an important freight link for bulk grain, coal, limestone and copper concentrate being transported to Port Kembla for export.
DCN understands more than 200 train services were impacted each month during the closure.
ARTC said it conducted geo-technical investigations on the line to assess the kind of work required and carried out the restoration program “as fast as was safely possible”.
However, ARTC was set back by further heavy rainfall in July that slowed restoration progress.
ARTC said it worked with customers and Sydney Trains to develop a schedule for the South Coast line during the closure to facilitate additional diverted freight services.
The corporation said it also liaised with stakeholders including grain growers and train oprators to assess the impacts and appropriate mitigations.
