Trackwork Better with GPS

MORE than $20 million dollars worth of maintenance will be carried out by the Australian Rail Track Corporation during upgrades to Hunter Valley railways.

Navigation technology will be used to keep the workers safe while increasing efficiency of the works.

ARTC will undertake a range of scheduled maintenance tasks including full track reconstructions, new
rail being laid, level crossing improvements, ballast cleaning, rail corridor tidy up works and signalling
maintenance.

Surveyors check levels near Werris Creek. Photograph supplied by ARTC.

Jonathan Vandervoort, Executive General Manager – Hunter Valley wants to complete the works quickly and will use technology to assist.

“To minimise disruption to our neighbours this maintenance will be carried out as quickly as possible and
earthworks will be completed with the help from GPS survey technology,” said Mr Vandervoort.

“This involves first calculating quantities and scoping out any possible problems then using GPS
equipped machines to carry out onsite earthworks.

“The system allows plant operators to figure out the depth of excavation and means a surveyor does not
have to be continuously around plant to assess and communicate the levels.

“The clever use of technology has allowed us to minimise the disruption to the community by completing
work faster and increased safety by reducing the number of workers around mobile plant,

“We’d like to thank the community for their patience with us while this important work is delivered and we
also ask motorists to take extra care and be cautious of trucks entering and exiting work sites,” Mr
Vandervoort said.

Works will take place:

•  From Islington to Telarah and from Port Waratah and Kooragang to Maitland -7pm, Friday, June
  9 – 3am, Tuesday, June 13
•  From Maitland to Muswellbrook -10am, Saturday, June 10 – 8pm, Monday, June 12
•  From Muswellbrook to Ulan- 3pm, Saturday, June 10 – 8pm Monday, June 12
•  From Muswellbrook to Narrabri -6am, Saturday, June 10 – 8pm, Monday, June 12

There will also be road closures associated with the works:

•  Scone – Turanville Road Level Crossing – Closed 11am – 4:30pm, Monday, 12 June
• Quirindi – Nowland Street Level Crossing – Closed 4am, Saturday, 10 June – 4pm Tuesday, 13 June, please note there will be truck movements from Nowland Street to Bells Gate Road.
• Farley – Wollombi Road Level Crossing – Closed 6am, Friday, 9 June – 6pm, Wednesday, 14 June-detours via Sawyers Gully Road, Kurri Kurri and Old North Road, Lochinvar.
• Bylong Valley Way, Sandy Hollow – Delays 4:30pm, Sunday 11 June to 12:30am Monday, 12 June

The ARTC advises planning ahead to avoid disruptions these closures may cause and try to avoid these areas around the proposed works periods to avoid inconvenience.