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Start on Alice-Darwin track laying

<p>Track laying on the Alice Springs-Darwin railway began at Katherine yesterday (Monday, April 8) and South Australian premier Mike Rann predicted the 1,420-km line will be completed well ahead of time.</p> <p>The start on the steelwork follows nearly 12 months of preparatory work, including 600 km of clearing and 400 km of earthworks.</p> <p>Northern Territory chief minister Clare Martin, Senator Ron Boswell, representing the Federal Government, and Halliburton KBR president and CEO Randy Harl also attended the ceremony.</p> <p>Ms Martin expressed confidence in the project and said the challenge will be seeing that it actually works.</p> <p>Track will be head south from Katherine and north from Tennant Creek this year, and north from Katherine and south from Tennant Creek in 2003. </p> <p>Work is expected to be completed early in 2004.</p> <br />