General News
5 January, 2023
Local upgrades completed
Freight capacity on the Ararat to Maryborough line has increased to 21-tonne axle loading as works on the Murray Basin Rail Project progress. New rail and extra ballast has been installed along the 88-kilometre section of track after works began in...
Freight capacity on the Ararat to Maryborough line has increased to 21-tonne axle loading as works on the Murray Basin Rail Project progress.
New rail and extra ballast has been installed along the 88-kilometre section of track after works began in late April, and were completed during a recent 39-day closure of the line, with 166 kilometres of rail and 75,000 tonnes of ballast installed to allow freight trains to operate with heavier loads.
Design work and planning approvals are continuing for the next stage of upgrades to the Murray Basin network, including building new passing loops at Tourello and Elmhurst, and signalling upgrades at the Ouyen and Maryborough yards.
“The upgrades to the Ararat-Maryborough line have delivered critical capacity improvements to allow more freight to be moved by rail,” Victorian Minister for Ports and Freight Melissa Horne said.
According to the State Government, the Murray Basin Rail Project will increase the number of weekly train paths on the Murray Basin network from 28 to 49 and is supporting 1000 direct and indirect jobs during delivery.