UPDATE: ARTC seeks alternate routes for Sydney to Perth freight

UPDATED:  Thursday, 5 March, 5pm AEDT

WITH THE Sydney to Perth rail track likely to be closed for weeks, the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) is working with freight operators on alternate routes.

While the Melbourne to Perth rail route has been reopened following flooding in South Australia, the Sydney to Perth route, which goes through Broken Hill, has sustained more significant damage.

ARTC issued a statement today saying it has been working closely with freight and terminal operators across the network to ensure sufficient rail capacity is available during the disruption.

“Alternative pathways via Melbourne and Adelaide have headroom to support redirected freight volumes, helping maintain the movement of essential freight and essential goods across the national supply chain,” the statement said.

The Adelaide to Darwin rail corridor remains open, maintaining freight connectivity to and from the Northern Territory.

ARTC said it is restoring critical rail infrastructure following severe weather impacts while maintaining alternative freight pathways to keep Australia’s national supply chain moving.

“The Sydney to Perth corridor via Broken Hill has sustained more significant impacts. Inspections have confirmed severe damage to rail infrastructure, including structural damage to a rail bridge caused by flash flooding,” the statement said.

“Due to the complexity of the bridge remediation works required, the corridor is expected to remain closed for several weeks, with current engineering assessments indicating a timeframe of approximately two to four weeks.

“ARTC has engaged specialist engineers to support the repair of the bridge and is reviewing options to safely expedite these works.”

The statement said that elsewhere along the corridor, recovery works are progressing, with crews, contractors and specialised equipment mobilised at multiple locations to restore the line to service as quickly and safely as possible.

ARTC group executive operations, Clinton Crump, said Australia’s interstate rail network is designed with multiple pathways, and there is capacity available through Melbourne and Adelaide to absorb redirected freight during this disruption.

“We’re working closely with freight operators and terminal partners to utilise that headroom so essential freight and goods continue moving across the country, Mr Crump said.

“At the same time, crews and specialist engineers are focused on safely restoring the Broken Hill corridor following significant flood damage.”

The flooding had impacted key road and rail infrastructure.

“With multiple highways currently disrupted due to flooding, including sections of the Barrier and Stuart Highways, rail is playing an essential role in maintaining the movement of supermarket goods and other critical freight between states,” an earlier media release from ARTC said.

The closure effectively cut off access to Western Australia for freight and passenger trains which had been unable to reach Kalgoorlie.

Freight forwarders and logistics operators also had to divert to road transport, adding time and cost.

“ARTC remains in direct communication with customers and will provide further updates as recovery progresses,” the release said.