TasRail crews and contractors are working throughout the weekend to progress restoration of rail services as quickly and as safely as possible.
The South Line from Brighton to Conara is expected to re-open by midnight on Monday, subject to weather conditions.
TasRail CEO Damien White confirmed that this will see rail intermodal freight services operating from Boyer and Brighton to Conara.
“TasRail has established container handling facilities at its Conara Rail Terminal that will enable the safe and efficient transfer of freight from rail to trucks, for forward transport to the Ports of Devonport and Burnie, and potentially to Launceston”, Mr White said. “The interim terminal facilities will ensure that our customers can move product to market, and that deliveries of general containerised freight, including consumer goods, continue to flow”.
In conjunction with the Department of State Growth and the Northern Midlands Council, all permits and arrangements are in place ready for the start-up of intermodal transfers at Conara. Advance Warning Signage is now operational on the Midlands Highway near Conara advising traffic of increased truck movements, and the speed limit on the northbound lane approaching Panec Street (Conara) has been reduced to 80 kmh as a safety precaution.
“TasRail would like to acknowledge the support of all parties involved for their assistance to achieve this outcome in a very short time frame”,
Mr White said.
Services on the Devonport to Railton line are operating without issue and arrangements are being progressed to ensure additional trains if required by its customer.
The Fingal and Bell Bay Lines are both in operational condition.
Work is progressing well to repair a landslip that occurred on the Melba Line, and subject to weather conditions and final engineering assessment, it is hoped that train services can resume early next week.
Restoration works are occurring elsewhere on the network as follows:
- Crews are working at East Tamar Junction today to complete repairs to enable the Bell Bay to Launceston Line to re-open from Monday.
- Western Junction to Conara – the major repair activity today is centred on the Symons Plains region.
- Melba Line – multiple crews are split between restoring track geometry on the Melba Line and landslip stabilisation.
- Kimberley Rail Bridge – good progress with planning for the mobilisation of equipment for the start of the preparation works ahead of the construction of a new span. The likely duration to complete the repair will be confirmed once the final design is decided and water levels drop.
- Devonport to Railton –rail services are operating continuously.
- Devonport to Burnie - Work to remove the stockpile of logs and debris banked up at the Emu River Rail Bridge continued today. Immediately after this is cleared, divers will inspect the bridge structure and repairs will commence on the abutment side. Re-opening of this rail bridge will enable TasRail to move rollingstock and increase capacity to maintain rollingstock operating west of Railton.
TasRail reminds the public to be vigilant for rail vehicle traffic across the network. This includes on lines not currently operating and where heavy vehicles and rail inspection vehicles will be operating at increased frequency.
