WA rail operator and manager Brookfield Rail is on track to deliver a $15.8 million investment project to upgrade it’s a 56km rail section in the Goldfields region.
Brookfield says the project, which commenced in May 2015, will deliver vital improvement works to a section of rail line between Kalgoorlie and Leonora. When it is completed, the company says the line will be upgraded from a 1-in-4 steel/timber sleeper pattern to a 1-in-2 steel/timber sleeper pattern.
Infrastructure general manager Paul Lowney said the project will improve safety, efficiency and reliability of the rail network in the region.
“This upgrade reduces the reliance on timber sleepers, whilst providing improved strength and stability to support future demands on the network,” Lowney said.
This line currently transports 1.4 million tonnes of nickel, sulphur and intrastate freight each year, with Brookfield predicting freight volumes to increase in the coming years.
Work is being completed on a live railway to ensure no disruption to reliable rail operations.
”The project is testament to Brookfield Rail’s commitment to safety and industry best practice,” Lowney said.
This investment builds on the $295 million Brookfield has invested in the rail network infrastructure in the Goldfields region within the last five years. The project is on schedule for completion later this year.