<span class="" id="parent-fieldname-description"> Freight and limited XPT passenger trains will this week âmake their debutâ on the new North East Victorian rail line between Seymour and Wodonga. </span> <p>Starting September 20, limited services will run for eight to 10 weeks on the rail line that has been converted from broad to standard gauge.</p><p>The line is not officially opened, but rather, is an opportunity for Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) to run trains on the new track and still have the “space” to continue its expedited maintenance of the original standard gauge track.</p><p>During this period, there will be four services a day on what ARTC describes as the ‘western line’ between Seymour and the Murray River.</p><p>“We will still be running trains on the original standard gauge track so for this short period of time there will be trains on both tracks,” ARTC chief executive David Marchant said.</p><p>“It’s also important to note that due to the western line being newly renovated it may take a relatively short time to ‘settle’ and could require further minor maintenance. ARTC maintenance crews will be carefully monitoring the track and rectifying any minor issues immediately.”</p><p>ARTC will also be continuing the commissioning of the new standard gauge converted track and the installation of signals.</p><p>The regauging of the track, work around the stations and other rail upgrades are part of the $612m North East Rail Revitalisation project, a joint initiative of the Victorian and Federal Governments and ARTC.</p><p>The project, which is nearing completion, will result in a double track standard gauge rail link between Seymour and Albury, which, along with the Wodonga Rail Bypass, will usher in a “new era” for rail transport, ARTC said.</p><p>After more than 18 months of construction the first train crossed Wodonga’s rail bypass on July 23.<br /> </p>
