Share This

Media Releases

Monday, 27th September 2010

Sleepers Unloaded Ready For Parkes To Broken Hill Upgrade


Broken Hill residents will notice an increase in activity around the City’s railyards as trains begin arriving and offloading the one million new concrete sleepers which will be used to rebuild and restore the line to Parkes.


Federal Infrastructure and Transport Minister Anthony Albanese said the $253 million resleepering project is the most extensive upgrade of the 691 kilometre line between Broken Hill and Parkes since it was completed in 1927.


“Indeed the upgrade of this line is one of the biggest projects to be funded under the Gillard Labor Government’s $3.4 billion capital works program which by mid-2014 will have modernised more than a third of the nation’s interstate rail network - the most extensive upgrade in generations,” said Mr Albanese.


“From the outset, the modernisation of this piece of infrastructure has been central to our broader efforts to lift national productivity, curb harmful carbon emissions and take the pressure off the nation’s highways.”


In the years ahead the demand for the transport of goods on this vital section of the network is expected to rise exponentially.


ARTC CEO David Marchant said the upgrade of the line between Broken Hill and Parkes will improve the overall efficiency of the interstate network.


“Concrete sleepers have a significant advantage over timber sleepers, particularly considering Australia’s rugged topography. They will greatly improve the track's capacity and reduce transit times,” said Mr Marchant.


“Their use will also reduce the need for temporary speed restrictions in the summer months. Whereas wooden sleepers tend to buckle on extremely hot days, concrete sleepers hold the rail firmly in place.


“The upgrade is good news for the wider community as well. Not only has the project generated jobs and provided a boost to the local economy, the new track will allow more freight to be transported by rail - which over time will lead to fewer trucks on our roads.”


One 1,500-metre train can replace around 100 trucks.


Austrak in Wagga Wagga will employ 53 people to produce 500,000 concrete sleepers for the project and Rocla in Grafton and Braemar will employ a further 76 locals to produce another 500,000 sleepers.


About Anthony
Media Centre
Grayndler NewsTranscriptsSpeechesOpinion Pieces

Electorate Office

334a Marrickville Rd
Marrickville NSW 2204

Phone: 02 9564 3588

Parliament House Office

Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600

Phone: 02 6277 7700

DisclaimerPrivacyTerms

Electorate Office

334a Marrickville Rd
Marrickville NSW 2204

Phone: 02 9564 3588

Parliament House Office

Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600

Phone: 02 6277 7700

Phone: (02) 9564 3588
Fax: (02) 9564 1734
Email: A.Albanese.MP@aph.gov.au

We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which our offices stand and we pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging. We acknowledge the sorrow of the Stolen Generations and the impacts of colonisation on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. We also recognise the resilience, strength and pride of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

Authorised by Anthony Albanese. 334a Marrickville Rd, Marrickville NSW 2204.

Sign up to hear directly from the Prime Minister

Loading...