Five-Day Rail Shutdown Starts Monday Next Week

BUSES will replace trains on the Hunter Line next week from August 3-7, as The Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) commences maintenance works on Aberdeen, Gunnedah and Quirindi bridges.

The five-day shutdown will see maintenance work stretching from Muswellbrook to Narrabi, with 300 workers conducting 100 separate maintenance jobs, as part of a two-year plan to replace the Hunter River Bridge, Muscle Creek Bridge and Bridge Street bridge.

Wayne Johnson General Manager Customer Service and Operations of ARTC, said the shutdown of rail traffic will allow work activities to be carried out safely.

“COVID-19 requires ongoing vigilance in many aspects, as such, the health and safety throughout the works is of critical importance so we have ongoing strict hygiene protocols in place to minimise potential risks to the community and the teams involved in the Hunter Valley maintenance shutdown,” Mr Johnson said.

“The work will generally start at 6.30am on Monday, August 3 and is expected to be completed about 6.30am on Friday August 7,” he said.

Details and schedules for alternative routes can be found on the Transport NSW website. 

Bridge maintenance works

• Major bridges replacements at Quirindi
• Bridge works at Gunnedah
• 270 Transoms replaced on Aderdeen bridge 
• Upgrading of 1850 metres of track formation
• Preventative and routine maintenance tasks

The next major maintenance shutdown is scheduled for September 22-24, 2020.

Further details can be found on the ARTC website here.