AUSTRALIAN Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) has completed a $A 442m ($US 289m) project to improve access for rail freight to Port Botany in Sydney.
The Botany Line track doubling and Cabramatta Loop schemes were undertaken by John Holland and Fulton Hogan and took two-and-a-half years to complete.
The projects were funded by the federal government and will together help meet future demand between Port Botany and intermodal freight terminals, where freight traffic is predicted to increase by 77% by 2036.
The Botany Rail project doubled the remaining 2.9km section of single track between Mascot and Port Botany and included the construction of four bridges. The Cabramatta Loop Project in western Sydney involved 1.65km of additional track to allow freight trains to pass each other and included the construction of new bridges and track realignment.
“Port Botany’s unique location and connectivity makes it a major gateway for Australia and the world, and now it will benefit from a major upgrade to its freight line, helping to move freight more efficiently and effectively in and out of the port,” says Ms Catherine King, federal transport minister.
“The upgrades will put more freight onto rail, help with congestion on Sydney roads, with reduced heavy vehicle movements, contributing to a more efficient transport system and city,” says Mr Wayne Johnson, CEO and managing director of ARTC. “Each extra freight train travelling on the Port Botany line will take around 50 trucks off Sydney’s roads, benefiting local road users.”
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