Major recovery works are progressing to restore freight services on South Australia’s east-west rail corridor.
The Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) is working to restore full operations following a freight train derailment north of Port Pirie on the East West rail corridor in South Australia.
Around-the-clock recovery works have cleared most wagons and the front end of the train, allowing crews to begin removing damaged rail ahead of a full track rebuild.
Once the remaining rolling stock has been removed, reconstruction of the rail line will commence.
Extreme heat and strong winds have created challenging conditions for crews on site, affecting the pace of recovery operations.
Rail services between Sydney and Perth, Melbourne and Perth, and Adelaide and Darwin remain suspended while works continue.
The current estimate for a return to service is Saturday evening, 10 January, subject to recovery progress and safety requirements.
Safety remains the priority during the restoration works, with members of the public asked to stay clear of the site while operations continue.
The cause of the derailment is under investigation, with ARTC working closely with the train operator and the Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator.
