- Major 96-hour shutdown enables critical maintenance and upgrades
- Boosting reliability, capacity and long-term performance of critical freight and passenger corridor
- Full line closure from Chullora, NSW to Melbourne, Victoria from 10:30pm Friday 1 May to 11pm Tuesday 5 May
The Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) will deliver a major program of essential maintenance and construction works across the Sydney-Melbourne rail corridor this weekend, including between Cootamundra and Parkes.
Major works include the installation of two new crossovers at Joppa Junction, marking another milestone in the delivery of the Southern Highlands Overtaking Opportunities project. Once complete, these upgrades will support more efficient movement of freight and passenger rail services between Sydney and Melbourne.
Additionally, ARTC will undertake track rehabilitation at Bargo, Tahmoor and Tennessee in NSW as part of the $1bn Network Investment Program, jointly funded with the Australian Government. These works aim to improve corridor reliability, enhance ride quality, and travel times.
A broad range of maintenance activities will also be carried out to strengthen the rail line, including upgrades to signalling systems and rail bridges.
During the possession, Inland Rail will complete rail and construction works across eight Victorian project sites from Wandong to Benalla. This includes the demolition of the old Broadford-Wandong Road bridge at Wandong and track lowering works at Broadford, Tallarook and Seymour.
The coordinated works will close key parts of the Sydney-Melbourne corridor including Cootamundra and Parkes in stages from 10:30pm on Friday 1 May through to 11pm on Tuesday 5 May.
Passengers are advised that coaches will replace all NSW Trainlink and V/Line services between 1-5 May. Customers should contact Transport for NSW (13 22 22) or V/Line (1800 800 007) to plan their journey and view alternate transport arrangements.
ARTC is reminding motorists to remain vigilant for any local traffic diversions and to obey all road rules at level crossings during the shutdown, with heavy machinery and specialised rail equipment still operating on the rail line.
These works are expected to generate noise at times during daylight and night-time hours however ARTC has worked hard to minimise the disruptions that this work may cause including limiting the most impactful works to daylight hours and utilising noise-reducing equipment where possible.
