The Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) is implementing a range of measures to ensure the continued safe and reliable running of the North East Rail Line network following its recognition as an essential service by State and Federal Government.
ARTC’s General Manager Projects Victoria Ed Walker said ARTC was carefully balancing the important work on the North East Rail Line upgrade, and the need to ensure ongoing freight and passenger rail operations alongside the health and welfare of our people and the communities in which we operate.
“The freight and transport industry is an essential service- and the North East rail line is a vital transport corridor for interstate freight trains, passenger trains, steel for construction and manufacturing and for regional goods like grain,” Mr Walker said.
“ARTC and our contract partners are implementing a range of preventative measures to manage the risk around COVID-19,” Mr Walker said.
This includes avoiding non-essential travel, following social distancing advice, implementing a range of hygiene practices and health check-ups, identifying what works can be delivered in smaller groups and enabling those staff that can work from home and remotely.
“We continue to follow advice from Government and monitor and assess the situation daily. The current environment is an uncertain and challenging one for everyone and we certainly recognise the responsibilities we have to the community as we deliver this vital project work and to ensure the safe running of essential freight and passenger train services,” Mr Walker said.
“We would also like to thank the community for their patience with the successful delivery of more than a dozen projects during the recent shutdown from Saturday 14 March to Monday 16 March.
“Further works will take place next weekend, from Saturday 4 April at 6pm, with bridge and track renewal work taking place at the Old Barnawartha Road, West Wodonga and High Street, Barnawartha level crossings.”
Community members can be kept informed of how work is progressing by viewing the upgrade project map updated with ‘after’ photos of recently completed level crossings and bridge upgrades https://maps.inlandrail.com.au/northeastline#/ and signing up to project updates at: artc.com.au/projects/northeast/
