Approximately 1200 workers will undertake three days of maintenance and enhancement works along the Hunter Valley rail network in New South Wales.
The work will be undertaken from the port at Kooragang and along the rail corridor to Narrabri, as well as the Ulan line west from Muswellbrook.
ARTC Group Executive for the Hunter Valley Network, Jonathan Vandervoort, said that the maintenance works along the network include ballast cleaning, re-railing and track reconditioning.
Re-railing work is occurring at Mangoola, Sandy Hollow and Baerami, as well as in Maitland in the vicinity of Victoria Street and along a 1km section south of Thornton Station.
Track reconditioning will occur at Kooragang, Hexham and East Maitland.
Enhancements to signalling systems will take place on sections between Bylong to Kerrabee and Wilpinjong to Ulan, completing these upgrades for the Hunter Valley network.
Mr Vandervoort said that in order for the work to occur efficiently and safely, a shutdown on the network will be in place.
“Similar to other recent maintenance programs, a scheduled shutdown is required to allow us to access the track for maintenance and upgrades that cannot be done safely when trains are running.
“We also ask people in communities close to the rail corridor to be cautious during the shutdown period and keep an eye out for increased vehicle movements in and out of work sites.”