The Hunter Valley rail network has kept 1300 rail workers busy this week, doing maintenance and enhancement works, according to the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC).
A program of 125 projects scheduled over three days, ending Friday, was undertaken from Kooragang port along the rail corridor to Werris Creek as well as the Ulan line west from Muswellbrook.
The work includes re-signalling at Thornton, a level crossing upgrade at Army Road at Glenridding and track reconditioning work at Quirindi.
“The Ardglen Tunnel will also be re-sleepered and re-railed. This is an interesting job as it is a heritage-listed tunnel and we have to take those considerations into account while undertaking the works,” ARTC group executive for the Hunter Valley, Jonathan Vandervoort, said.
“We will also take advantage of the opportunity to undertake a number of works including removing ballast and improving drainage on this section. With tunnels you need to be very efficient as the conditions are difficult to work in and to you need to be very organised to get all the works done in the allotted time.”
Passenger services were replaced by buses over the three days to allow crews to access the rail tracks safely.
“We ask people in communities close to the rail corridor to be cautious during the shutdown period and keep an eye out for increased vehicle movements in and out of work sites,” Vandervoort said.