- Maintenance and improvement works will close the Sydney to Melbourne line for 67 hours
- Works are part of a program to improve network resilience and reliability
- Passengers advised to plan their journeys, with closures from 11pm Friday 12 September to 6pm Monday 15 September
The Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) will carry out essential rail maintenance and improvement works this weekend on the main railway line between Sydney and Melbourne, and Cootamundra and Parkes.
During the works, the railway line will be closed:
- Between Chullora and Moss Vale in NSW from 11pm on Friday 12 September to 6pm Monday 15 September.
- Between Moss Vale in NSW and Tottenham in Victoria and between Cootamundra and Parkes in NSW from 6am Saturday 13 September to 6pm Monday 15 September.
Major works along the corridor include completing crossover installation works and replacing signalling infrastructure at Werai as part of the Southern Highlands Overtaking Opportunities (SHOO) project.
The Werai site will be commissioned during the corridor closedown, marking a significant milestone in the project. It will allow ARTC to begin utilising the benefits of SHOO, such as more efficient movement of freight and passenger rail services between Sydney and Melbourne.
Maintenance activities include re-railing, track reconditioning, structures upgrades and repairs as well as mudhole removal and track ballasting and tamping activities. These works are part of ARTC's commitment to improve network resilience and reliability.
Major construction will also be undertaken as part of the Inland Rail project, including the demolition of the Kemp Street bridge at Junee, NSW, and the Hamilton Street bridge at 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 and pedestrians to remain vigilant for altered traffic conditions near the rail corridor, pay attention to signage and to obey all road rules at level crossings, with heavy machinery active on rail lines.
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:
"This planned network shutdown allows us to complete more than 20,000 hours of work, maintaining the safety and reliability of the Sydney to Melbourne and Cootamundra to Parkes rail corridors.
"Notably, it's great to see the progress being made on the Southern Highlands Overtaking Opportunities project, it means we can start realising some of the benefits - ensuring the rail corridor will continue to serve as a vital link in the economic supply chain.
"ARTC would like to thank the community for their patience as we undertake these important long-term improvements."
