Rail sites around Forbes were a hive of activity over the past few days, with work around-the-clock during a track shut down.
Major construction works on Inland Rail’s Stockinbingal to Parkes section are progressing on schedule, with principal contractor Martinus Rail making progress across multiple sites during a 100-hour shutdown from Saturday to Wednesday morning.
At Daroobalgie, north of Forbes, new turnouts are being installed at the new crossing loop location, preparations for which included earthworks, drainage and ballast installation, while at Wyndham Avenue, Forbes, the existing track under the road bridge is being lowered by 1.5 metres, with 320 metres of track being rebuilt using more than
500 sleepers and 1000 tonnes of stone ballast.
The track at Forbes Station is being slewed laterally by more than half a metre, while the station awning is being trimmed by 300mm to enable the safe passing of double-stacked freight trains.
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Scaffolding has been installed on the Lachlan River Bridge, ahead of bridge modifications that will take place after the possession.
A 30-metre exclusion zone is being enforced at the bridge due to the nature of the work, and environmental controls have been established to protect the waterway and riverbanks.
Workers across sites in and around Forbes have been working round the clock to progress major construction and return the line to operation.
James Kennedy, Delivery Director, Albury to Parkes (A2P), Inland Rail, said there was a lot of preparation behind the scenes to ensure as much as possible could be achieved during the shut down.
“Teams from Inland Rail and Martinus have been collaborating to achieve all of these goals as we progress toward delivering Inland Rail South of Parkes by the end of 2027," he said.
“I would like to thank community members for their patience and understanding while we have been carrying out construction on this major nation-building project.”
Treaven Martinus, Martinus Rail CEO and founder, said they deeply appreciated the community's understanding during this critical phase.
“From the installation of sleepers, rail and ballast, to the precise tamping and regulating operations, our teams are managing the complexities of brownfield railway works with meticulous planning and safety at the forefront," he said.
For more information on the works, visit our works notifications page.
Inland Rail has spent more than $6.5 million with 85 local businesses on the project between Albury and Parkes since July last year.
Since 2018, the Inland Rail project has spent more than $470 million with local businesses, with 676 local firms supplying the project and 744 tradies providing their skills.
