<p>An 11.6-km passing loop, which would allow trains to pass each other at regular speeds, has been completed at Bomen in southern New South Wales, as part of the Melbourne-Sydney-Brisbane rail corridor upgrade.</p> <p>The $15.3m construction, which involved laying 11,600 metres of rail and 8,700 concrete sleepers, would allow trains transporting cargo to enter and leave the passing loop at 80 km/hr, up from the normal loop speed of 40 km/hr.</p> <p>It would also prevent one train standing idle in the siding, while the other waited for the train travelling in the opposite direction to pass.</p> <p>Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) chief executive David Marchant said the passing loop would reduce travel time and increase the length of trains able to travel on the network from 1,500 metres to 1,800 metres.</p> <p>“This passing loop is another important milestone in the north-south strategy to cut the transit time from Melbourne to Sydney to as low as 10 hours 40 minutes and 15 hours 35 minutes between Sydney and Brisbane,” he said.</p> <p>Investment in the corridor upgrade could see fewer trucks on major roads as each 1,500-metre long train could replace 100 semi-trailers, Mr Marchant said.</p> <p>The Bomen passing loop is the fourth of five passing loops on the NSW side of the border – other passing loops have been completed at Uranquinty, Yerong Creek and Gerogery.</p> <p>“The passing lanes ARTC is constructing along the rail corridor, the new concrete sleepers and the signal upgrades combine to create perhaps the biggest rail project since the track was originally laid,” Mr Marchant said.</p> <br />