The Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) and construction partner McConnell Dowell will work non-stop during a 60-hour closure of the Melbourne-Sydney rail line from Saturday 23 to Monday 25 September.
Extra work is required at Wangaratta on Tuesday 26 and Wednesday 27 September, meaning trains will not stop at Wangaratta Station for a further two days. A temporary timetable will be in place for passengers travelling to and from Wangaratta.
Work will include cutting the existing rail track and station platform, digging out the underpass, adding drainage and installing 30 pre-cast concrete sections to form the underpass passageway.
After the underpass has been installed, it will be covered to be completed next year, and the platform and rail track will be reinstated.
The permanent precast concrete sections have been manufactured by Humes in Echuca and the temporary precast sections supplied by Modcast in North Wangaratta.
Rail line possessions allow ARTC significant access to the rail corridor to complete a wide range of maintenance and Inland Rail works at multiple locations between Sydney and Melbourne that cannot be completed between train services.
In Victoria, Inland Rail works will be undertaken at 12 sites, including Wangaratta, to enable double-stacked freight trains to pass safely and ensure everyday products can be delivered faster and more reliably around Australia.
Ed Walker, ARTC Victoria and South Australian General Manager Projects said:
“The 60-hour track possession is important for the construction team to complete a large volume of work in a short time.
“During the September possession we’ll also see significant construction work at Inland Rail sites in Glenrowan and Barnawartha North. Beams spanning the rail corridor will be installed at Glenrowan, and thousands of tonnes of soil will be removed at Barnawartha North to lower the track under the Murray Valley Highway bridge.”
Tony Roman, McConnell Dowell site supervisor said:
“We’re excited to be reaching an important stage of the Inland Rail project at Wangaratta.”
IMAGE: Recent high voltage electrical works at Wangaratta Station in preparation for installation of the new pedestrian underpass.
