Australian Rail Track Corporation executive general manager Jonathan Vandervoort has urged workers, motorists and community members to maintain a safety focus during a three-day shutdown of the Hunter Valley rail network from Tuesday.
A network-wide maintenance shutdown is taking place in the Hunter Valley from 6am on Tuesday, February 23 to 6am on Friday, February 26.
“We have over 1000 ARTC and contract staff in the rail corridor during these shutdowns and with moving equipment, trucks and machinery it’s crucial everyone remains vigilant about safety,” Vandervoort said last week.
“In particular, we would like to ask motorists and members of the community to be aware of changed traffic conditions and heavy work vehicles entering and exiting sections of the rail corridor and to pay particular attention around level crossings.”
According to the ARTC, level crossing incidents have been 82% more likely to occur in regional areas, rather than in metropolitan areas, over the last five years.
Furthermore, 76% per cent of reported near hits occur in a rural location, according to the ARTC’s statistics.
“We want this year’s first network-wide shutdown to start off right, and are urging everyone to apply a safety-first frame of mind to everything they do,” Vandervoort said.
The rail corporation is conducting around 100 individual projects during the 72-hour network shutdown. Tasks include replacing sleepers, cleaning and compacting ballast, improving the condition of level crossings as well as technical jobs like signalling work.
“By ‘closing down’ the network and with fewer trains running, we create a safer environment for our people and provide the opportunity to get the maximum amount of rail maintenance done in an efficient amount of time,” Vandervoort said.
“There’s a lot of planning that goes into these shutdowns, but each and every staff member and contractor also has a responsibility to our value of No Harm, to look out for each other and find safe ways to do things.
“These shutdowns are planned more than a year in advance and we closely work with the Hunter Valley Coal Chain Coordinator and our customers to make sure we minimise impact on the Hunter coal chain.
“We would like to thank the community for their patience and understanding while the works take place as we appreciate it does cause inconvenience.”
The next major maintenance shutdown will be between April 27 and 29.