Mibnisterial Statement: North-South Rail Line Reopened

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Graeme Sturges, MP

Minister for Infrastructure

Tuesday, 23 June 2009
   
North-South Rail Line Reopened

The Minister for Infrastructure, Graeme Sturges, today announced that main rail line between the North and South of Tasmania had reopened and rail freight services would resume tonight (Tuesday).

Services were temporarily suspended by Pacific National after a train derailment on the track near Colebrook last month.

Mr Sturges, said today that the Government had worked co-operatively with Pacific National to re-open the North South Line in the shortest possible timeframe.

?Following the closure of the line, representatives of Pacific National and my Department made a track inspection, resulting in an agreed program of works to repair the track to enable train operations to resume.

?The works program has now been completed, and the track will reopen to rail traffic tonight.?

Mr Sturges said that extreme weather conditions had caused some delays in completing the program.

?The magnitude of this task should not be underestimated.

?It involved the insertion of 500 new railway sleepers, and the replacement of 1293 lengths of rail, totalling 17.7 kilometres of new rail.

?About 1400 welds were made to join the rail together.

?The work also included the upgrading of 45 curves over 50 kilometres from Bridgewater to Rhyndaston.

?The works program involved 90 personnel, some of whom were brought to Tasmania for this task, along with additional materials and equipment.

?Work crews from Pacific National, Queensland Rail, VEC Civil Engineering and Downer EDI Works participated in the rectification program.?

Mr Sturges said that much of the works program involved bringing forward work already begun by Queensland Rail as part of a contract for the replacement of 160,000 sleepers across the Tasmanian rail network.

He said regular updates had been provided to key stakeholders throughout the repair process.

?Everyone involved in the rectification program should be congratulated on their professional response and delivery of this project in the shortest possible time, in the face of adverse weather conditions.?

Mr Sturges said it was important for the public to be aware that trains were now running again, and motorists should be vigilant at level crossings throughout the State.