Below Rail Infrastructure, Freight Rail

‘Hundreds of metres’ of North Coast ballast washed away

Track Ballast - photo public domain

The Australian Rail Track Corporation has confirmed damage to its North Coast network includes the removal of substantial amounts of ballast by flooding this week.

ARTC’s Hunter Valley and North Coast networks remained closed on Wednesday, with operations suspended due to extreme weather, and damage to tracks and associated infrastructure.

Crews from the track authority began to inspect the damage in the Hunter and mid-North Coast regions throughout Wednesday, to get a better idea of the damage and to begin planning repairs.

“Conditions and access throughout the region remain difficult,” the ARTC said, “and it will take throughout today [Wednesday] to get a full picture of the repair task and any initial forecasts.”

The ARTC announced the closure of the lines on Tuesday, after high rainfall, severe flooding, strong winds, fallen trees and debris, power failures and fallen power lines impacted the Hunter Valley network, particularly between Maitland and the Port of Newcastle.

“A number of track locations are under water,” the ARTC said on Wednesday. “Full assessment will not be able to be made until water levels recede.

“Damage in the North Coast includes hundreds of metres of ballast washed away at various locations, a number of land slips and damage to signalling equipment.”

Further south, high winds also impacted services into Port Botany overnight on Tuesday, and the Sydney Metropolitan Freight Network was impacted by the weather on Wednesday morning.