A major maintenance blitz will shut the North Coast rail line for almost two days, with more than 250 workers deployed across 43 sites to tackle delays and improve reliability.
The Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) will carry out works from Telarah in NSW to Acacia Ridge in Queensland from 5am on Saturday, 22 August until 1am on Monday, 24 August.
Crews will work around the clock on track renewals, signal upgrades, bridge and culvert maintenance and targeted defect repairs, with North Coast communities including Gloucester, Taree, Kempsey, Nambucca Heads, Braunstone and Grafton affected by the program.
ARTC Group Executive Operations Clinton Crump said the shutdown would allow crews to undertake a large amount of maintenance within a short period.
“This is a significant, coordinated program of works that allows us to complete critical maintenance safely and efficiently across multiple sites in a short window.
“By targeting the issues that cause delays, we’re helping deliver faster, more reliable journeys for passengers and freight customers.”
The North Coast works form part of a broader 46-hour shutdown that will also include the Hunter Valley corridor between Hamilton and Maitland, where work will begin at 3am on Saturday.
ARTC invests about $190 million a year in scheduled maintenance and has been planning the shutdown for more than three months.
The program follows a recent Hunter Valley shutdown in which crews removed 10 temporary speed restrictions, improving transit times across the network.
“This shutdown builds on the strong results we’re already seeing across the network and will help ensure the railway continues to meet growing demand,” Crump said.
“We thank the community for their patience while this important work is carried out.”
ARTC said it would seek to minimise noise, light and dust during the works.
The influx of workers is also expected to benefit accommodation, hospitality and service businesses in communities along the North Coast corridor.
Coaches will replace NSW TrainLink services during the shutdown, with passengers advised to check transportnsw.info or call 13 22 32 before travelling.
Motorists and pedestrians are also being urged to remain alert around the rail corridor and obey signage and road rules at level crossings.
Road closure and diversion information is available at livetraffic.com, while ARTC trackwork updates are available through its website or community line on 1300 550 402.
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