- Maintenance, improvement & construction works will close the Sydney to Melbourne line for 50 hours
- Works are part of a planned program to improve network resilience and reliability
- Passengers advised to plan their journeys, with closures from 10:30pm Friday 27 February to 2:00am Monday 2 March
The Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) will undertake essential maintenance, and improvement works next weekend on the main railway line between Sydney and Melbourne.
The works will take place between:
- Chullora Junction to Moss Vale in NSW from 10:30pm Friday 27 February to 2:00am 2 March.
- Moss Vale and Cootamundra in NSW from 6:00am Saturday 28 February to 11:00pm Sunday 1 March.
- Cootamundra in NSW and Somerton in Victoria from Saturday 28 February to Sunday 1 March.
Maintenance activities include track reconditioning; signalling upgrades; vegetation removal; mudhole remediation; track ballasting and tamping; re-sleepering; rail defect removal; turnout component renewal; general track maintenance and level crossing track works.
New culverts will also be installed at Yanderra and Yerrinbool as part of the NSW Culvert Upgrade project to improve stormwater management and mitigate the risk of flooding along these sections of track.
These works are part of ARTC's commitment to maintain safety and strengthen the resilience and reliability of our network.
During the planned closedown, Inland Rail will also carry out a range of construction and pre-construction activities to provide sufficient clearance for double-stacked freight trains, including the demolition of the Edmondson Street bridge in Wagga Wagga, NSW, and demolition of the Short Street bridge in Broadford, Victoria.
Coaches and buses will replace NSW Trainlink services, including the Sydney to Melbourne XPT and V/Line Albury Line trains during this time. For up-to-date journey information, customers are encouraged to visit Transportnsw.info or vline.com.au for assistance in planning their journey.
ARTC is reminding motorists to remain vigilant and continue to obey road rules at level crossings during the shutdown, with heavy machinery operating on and around the rail line.
Information on road closures or diversions and alternative routes can be found at Live Traffic NSW and VicTraffic.
Clinton Crump, Group Executive Operations, ARTC, said:
"The Sydney to Melbourne corridor plays a key role in ARTC's freight and passenger network. Ongoing maintenance is essential to ensure the continued reliability and efficiency of this critical supply chain corridor.
"These works are vital to maintaining safety and enhancing the reliability of our national rail network.
"ARTC would like to thank the travelling public for its patience while these critical, long-term improvements take place."
