- ARTC and Vossloh Australia enter sleeper supply agreement
- 250,000 new concrete sleepers will strengthen Maroona to Portland rail line in Victoria
- Improved safety, reliability and efficiency for train operators and freight forwarders
A major milestone has been reached to support the delivery of the Maroona to Portland Re-sleepering Project in Victoria, with the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) executing a major contract with Vossloh Australia to manufacture and deliver 250,000 concrete sleepers for the project.
Funded by the Australian Government, the $150 million Maroona to Portland Re-sleepering Project will strengthen the 173km stretch of railway in the state's west to enhance the efficiency and reliability of rail transport in the region.
The project includes the replacement of degraded timber sleepers with more durable, low-profile concrete sleepers, with approximately 220,000 manufactured at Vossloh's Wagga Wagga facility in New South Wales and a further 30,000 produced at its Geelong facility in Victoria.
The upgrade will provide significant safety and productivity benefits for freight transport, with the new sleepers to enable heavier train loads and faster travel times, including the removal of Temporary Speed Restrictions (TSRs).
The delivery of sleepers to site is planned over a 12-month period, commencing from September 2026 to September 2027, with the sleeper installation and other project works scheduled for completion in 2028, subject to approvals.
The Maroona to Portland Re-sleepering Project forms part of ARTC's Network Investment Program - a joint initiative with the Australian Government - to strengthen and future-proof the nation's rail infrastructure. Across five years to 2030, more than $1 billion will be invested to ensure the continued efficient movement of freight around the country.
Heather Parry, Director Infrastructure Projects, ARTC, said:
"The Maroona to Portland rail upgrade will vastly improve the safety and reliability of the line in western Victoria and enable significant efficiency and productivity benefits for train operators and freight forwarders.
"When complete, the line will be able to handle heavier and faster trains, which will increase the competitiveness of rail freight and reduce the region's reliance on road freight.
"The upgraded track will also benefit exporters by greatly improving access to the Port of Portland - a key trade gateway, particularly for regional industries and communities in Victoria and South Australia.
Murray Adams, Vossloh Sleeper Technologies Australia Managing Director, said:
"Vossloh is very happy to work with ARTC to supply sleepers for this important project that further improves the local rail network, enabling the deepwater port at Portland to more effectively service our important regional industries across the East Coast.
"This project is also important to Vossloh as it provides continuing volume and jobs at our facility in Wagga Wagga."
