Tasmania minister for infrastructure Rene Hidding says the opening of a Request for Tender for the replacement of more than 10,000 sleepers marks the beginning of the state’s $120 million Freight Rail Revitalisation Program.
TasRail on Wednesday launched the Request for Tender for the Re-sleepering and Re-railing of track sections on the Melba and Main (South and Western) lines.
The railway operator opened the tender to experienced, qualified and competent contractor(s), and will conduct a pair of compulsory site visits at the Western line (July 21) and South line (July 22).
The tender includes the replacement of around 10,600 sleepers, and six kilometres of rail. Works are planned to be completed by October 4 on the South Line, November 8 on the Western Line and December 6 on the Melba Line.
TasRail will supply all railway specific materials for the project, including ballast, and timetabled rail traffic will be maintained during the conduct of the work.
The Freight Rail Revitalisation Program is a four-year, $119.6 million project, jointly funded by the state and federal governments. Hidding said he was pleased to see the re-sleepering and re-railing RfT, which signalled the start of work under the Program.
“These priority works will improve the safety and reliability of the TasRail network,” Hidding said. “This is the first tranche of a joint Commonwealth-State project to continue the upgrading of Tasmania’s rail freight networks.
“With the funding confirmed in May, it is pleasing to see the first tenders issued so promptly. The projects will provide a major boost for Tasmania’s civil construction industry, creating new jobs, and begin the task of building a more competitive rail freight network, which will strengthen our economy.”