Events, Major Projects & Infrastructure, Safety, Track & Civil Construction

Rail recovering from winds and rain

The NSW and Queensland rail networks are starting to get back on track following record winds and rainfall, as safety assessments and repair work continues.

Sydney Trains Chief Executive Matt Longland said significant progress has been made on the rail recovery program across metropolitan Sydney.

“Hundreds of workers are on the ground everyday assessing, clearing and beginning repairs to extensive parts of the network,” he said.

“This is an enormous undertaking by our expert teams, who have successfully completed work on the North Shore, Campsie to Birrong and Liverpool to Glenfield rail lines.

“Last week, the T1 North Shore line returned to full operation with no speed restrictions following major geotechnical inspections and remediation work. This means customers no longer need to swap trains at North Sydney to reach the city.

“Thanks to the great work of our teams, all areas that had zonal speed restrictions have now had those restrictions lifted.”

NSWTrains Chief Executive Dale Merrick said the biggest challenge was still in Richmond and the Blue Mountains, where heavy flooding has caused extensive damage.

“Parts of the T1 Western Line remain closed as we wait for water levels to recede between Schofields and Richmond, and Transport for NSW can get crews in to inspect signal and electrical equipment, remove debris and begin repairs,” he said.

“Crews have been able to gain a better understanding of the scale of the work on the Blue Mountains line, however there are significant challenges in accessing sites to begin repairs on a rail line that traverses through steep rock cuttings and numerous tunnels.

“We do expect repairs on the two lines will take some time, but we are working towards a staged approach to re-opening the track, that will initially allow limited services on some sections shortly.

“Thank you to customers for working with us during this time and we will provide a forecast for opening these sections of the line as soon as we can.”

Buses continue to replace trains between Richmond and Schofields and between Emu Plains and Penrith. Replacement bus services are also running between Penrith and Katoomba and Katoomba and Lithgow. Customers are reminded to allow extra travel time and plan ahead at transportnsw.info and using live apps.

Meanwhile, services across all of the Queensland Rail network have been restored, after a mammoth three-week recovery of damage and debris from the recent record rain and flooding.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said Queensland Rail had undertaken a mammoth job to repair washouts, sink holes, landslips, debris and an extensive list of other damage across hundreds of kilometres of rail in the state’s south.

“We saw a critical supply chain reinstated with the reopening of the West Moreton rail line, where coal, grain and other freight services have now resumed,” he said.

“More than 90 workers in crews from Toowoomba, Laidley, Dalby, Chinchilla and Warwick joined the effort to restore our western rail lines, with final efforts focused on the Toowoomba Range in recent days.

“The Toowoomba Range was hit hard and had more than 30 slip sites, washouts and water coming through the rock face.

“Professional rock climbers were brought onboard to assist in stabilising the slope, allowing for final repairs to be completed and services to resume today.”

Member for Ipswich West Jim Madden said the South East Queensland rail network was also resuming operations on all lines, including the Rosewood line.

“A major landslip in West Ipswich has been the thorn in the side of the SEQ recovery effort, and a creative solution has re-established connection through this area,” he said.

“Queensland Rail has constructed a temporary track deviation around the landslip, which is allowing Rosewood line trains, freight and regional western services to safely resume at restricted speeds, while work on the landslip continues to be safely repaired.

“With this interim arrangement in place, it means services on the Rosewood line will run at different times to what customers are used to, so customers should visit the TransLink Journey Planner to plan their travel.

“This is an important transport corridor for SEQ services to Rosewood, regional passenger services through to Charleville, and freight services connecting from the west to the Port of Brisbane.

“Rosewood SEQ passenger rail services have resumed, and on 24 March, the Westlander passenger service will also make its return, connecting communities between Brisbane and Charleville.”

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