THE Australian Rail Track Corporation said it has improved the ARTC line following an annual maintenance blitz.
Known as “super possession”, maintenance works were carried out between Sydney and Melbourne to increase network safety and reliability.
Between 2 September and 5 September ARTC worked on re-railing, resurfacing and reconditioning, as well as drainage restoration, ballasting, turnout maintenance and bridge maintenance.
The outcome of the super possession was 23 kilometres of re-railing, two turnout upgrades, eight resurfaced turnouts and 1200 new concrete sleepers installed.
Costas Kokkoni, ARTC general manager asset maintenance services – interstate, said the blitz saw more than $10 million worth of essential works completed from Sydney to Melbourne.
“We are pleased to report that over 22,000 hours of work was completed at 118 worksites across the corridor with no injuries or safe-working breaches,” Mr Kokkoni said.
“Forty temporary speed restrictions (TSRs) were removed with a total improvement of 35 minutes for super freight, with more TSRs to be lifted in the upcoming days.
“ARTC would like to thank the community for its patience while these critical, long-term improvements took place.”
The works were part of ARTC’s investment of more than $170 million over the next three years to improve network resilience and help reduce speed restrictions.
