General News
4 August, 2022
Local Murray Basin Rail Project works underway
Upgrades to 20 kilometres of track on the Maryborough and Ararat rail lines has been completed as work continues on the Murray Basin Rail Project. While the project has been dogged with delays and funding issues, track upgrades have been underway on...
Upgrades to 20 kilometres of track on the Maryborough and Ararat rail lines has been completed as work continues on the Murray Basin Rail Project.
While the project has been dogged with delays and funding issues, track upgrades have been underway on the Ararat to Maryborough line since May as part of the next stage of works on the project.
Deliveries for 160 kilometres of 47 kilogram rail that will be installed between Ararat and Maryborough began in late April and will continue through to September, with works expected to be completed by the end of the year.
The upgrades will enable all types of freight trains to operate with heavier loads, increasing load capacity for all wagons by 15 percent to 21 tonne axle loading.
Design work and procurement is also underway on further upgrades, including new crossing loops and sidings, improvements to Maryborough junction and signalling upgrades.
Minister for Ports and Freight Melissa Horne said the project will make it easier to get products to market.
“These works and our investments across the freight network mean heavier and faster trains, bringing costs down for our primary producers and exporters and making it easier to get products to market,” she said.
In other sections of the project, works on the Ouyen to Murrayville line have been completed.
“It’s great to see early works complete on the Ouyen to Murrayville line which will improve safety, capacity and reliability of services and better connect local producers to our major ports,” Minister for Transport Infrastructure Jacinta Allan said.