The Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) will soon install four reinforced concrete box culverts to strengthen the resilience of the East-West rail corridor.
The ARTC said the upgrades will improve drainage and reduce the risk of track washaways during flood events.
This will increase the reliability of the key freight corridor, which links Western Australia with the East Coast.
The culverts will be installed between Kingoonya and Wynbring, near Tarcoola in South Australia, as part of the $1 billion Network Investment Program, jointly funded with the Australian Government.
The works build on recent upgrades, including 22 culverts completed between Tarcoola and Port Augusta.
In addition to the culvert works, more than 32 additional maintenance activities will be undertaken, including resleepering, rail replacement, track reconditioning, structural repairs, preventative maintenance and defect removal.
The culvert upgrades will be delivered during a planned closure on April 18-20 between Victoria and South Australia.
During the works, the network will be closed in stages between:
- Laverton to North Pyrenees from 3am Saturday April 18 to 6pm Monday April 20
- Pyrenees to Stawell from 5am Saturday April 18 to 9pm Monday April 20
- Serviceton to Mile End from 7am Saturday April 18 to 7pm Monday April 20
Heather Parry, Director of Infrastructure Projects at the ARTC, said: “The East–West rail corridor is a vital freight link connecting Western Australia with the eastern states, supporting the movement of food, consumer goods and other essential supplies across the country.”
“These culvert upgrades are about strengthening the network in known risk areas and reducing the likelihood and impact of disruptions during flood events.
“They build on work already completed along the corridor and form part of our $1 billion Network Investment Program, delivered in partnership with the Australian Government to strengthen reliability across the national rail network.”
A bus service will replace the Adelaide to Melbourne Overland Service during the maintenance closures. ARTC said customers requiring information about their trip should contact Journey Beyond directly or call 13 21 47.
