Below Rail Infrastructure, Engineering, Freight Rail

Botany Rail Line upgrade contract awarded

Rail line at Port Botany. Photo: Sydney Ports Corporation / Brendan Read

An Austrian-based business has taken out the first construction contract for Stage 3 of the $75 million Port Botany Rail Line upgrade.

Federal infrastructure and regional development minister Warren Truss has announced Rhomberg Rail will perform the work, on the back of a record month for containers hauled to and from Port Botany by rail.

“Reducing the impact of freight traffic on motorists by developing cross-metropolitan, rail container shuttle services has been a focus of the Australian and New South Wales governments for some years and this upgrade will allow more efficient access to the port, improve productivity and prepare it for future growth,” Truss said.

Under the contract Rhomberg will deliver concrete re-sleepering and embankment upgrade works to the freight network between Sefton and Campsie in Sydney’s west. Truss said the work should take roughly 18 months, starting this November. Pre-construction commenced in July.

“Stage 3 will not only improve the rail line’s reliability, but improve the connectivity between the port and the broader Sydney rail freight network, including intermodal terminals,” Truss, who is also the leader of the National Party and deputy prime minister, said.

“These upgrades will bring the entire metropolitan freight line up to ARTC standards.”

Australian Rail Track Corporation chairman John Fullerton welcomed the announcement, identifying a noticeable modal shift to rail in New South Wales.

“In August 2015, a record number of containers were railed to and from Port Botany – over 30,000 Twenty Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) – or around 15.9 per cent modal share for rail for the month,” Fullerton said.

“With the future freight task only growing, the opportunity for rail to pick up more transport work in New South Wales is compelling.

“No other transport mode has the current existing capacity for this growing freight task or the ability to have an immediate impact on traffic congestion that currently gridlocks the city.”

1 Comment

  1. This is nice and all but what about removing the level crossing at general holmes drive.