The Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) has recently marked a significant milestone with the completion of the Botany Rail line duplication and the development of a new Cabramatta Loop after 2.5 years of construction. The completion was celebrated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, signifying the operational commencement of the lines. This achievement is a collaborative effort between ARTC and its construction partners, John Holland and Fulton Hogan.
The final phase of the project involved crucial tasks such as the installation of turnouts, signalling works, and rigorous testing and commissioning of new signalling infrastructure. These combined projects are expected to substantially enhance freight capacity while concurrently alleviating traffic congestion by reducing the number of trucks on Sydney’s local roads.
An interesting statistic emerges from this development: each additional freight train traversing the Port Botany Rail Line is estimated to eliminate up to 54 trucks from Sydney’s roads. The Botany Rail Duplication project focused on duplicating the remaining 2.9km section of single line track between Mascot and Port Botany. This involved the construction of four new and replacement rail bridges.
The Cabramatta Loop Project, on the other hand, entailed the establishment of a 1.65km section of new track alongside the existing track. This allows freight trains traveling in opposite directions to pass each other efficiently, necessitating the construction of new bridge structures and track realignment.
Federal Government funding amounting to $442 million has been instrumental in realizing these transformative rail projects. These investments are poised to meet the burgeoning demand between Port Botany and metropolitan freight intermodal terminals effectively.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony, hosted by ARTC on February 16, witnessed the presence of key dignitaries, including Assistant Minister and Member for Kingsford Smith Matt Thistlethwaite. Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, Catherine King, emphasized the strategic significance of Port Botany as a major gateway for Australia and the world. She highlighted the upgraded freight line’s role in facilitating the more efficient movement of goods in and out of the port.
Assistant Minister Matt Thistlethwaite underscored Port Botany’s pivotal role in rail container transportation, with a significant portion of regional New South Wales’s exports passing through it. He emphasized the economic benefits of the upgrade, both for New South Wales and Australia as a whole.
ARTC CEO and Managing Director, Wayne Johnson, expressed his satisfaction with the successful completion of the projects, emphasizing their positive impact on Australia’s freight network. He attributed this success to the collaborative efforts of various stakeholders, including the Federal Government, project teams, and construction partners.
Source: ARTC
