A KEY western Victorian freight route is being strengthened with the first concrete sleepers arriving for the Maroona–Portland rail line, part of a $166 million upgrade.
ARTC is delivering the project through its Network Investment Program with the Australian government.
The project is to replace ageing timber sleepers with about 250,000 new concrete sleepers along the 173-kilometre rail line between Maroona and Portland.
Sleepers sit under the rails and help keep the track strong and stable. The new concrete sleepers are to support heavier freight trains, faster travel times and more reliable services.
Vossloh is making the sleepers at its Wagga Wagga facility in New South Wales with Pacific National moving them to site along the Maroona-Portland line in 40 dedicated sleeper trains.
Deliveries are to continue along the rail line into 2027, ahead of the main construction work starting in late 2027.
ARTC has spent many months planning the project, preparing sites and completing early works so sleeper deliveries can begin safely.
Once complete, the upgrade will strengthen the rail connection between the interstate network and the Port of Portland.
It is to complement the Murray Basin Rail Project by improving the freight route linking western and north-western Victoria with the Port, while also supporting freight from south western Victoria and south-east Australia.
Together, these upgrades will help regional producers and exporters move grain, mineral sands and other goods to market more reliably and efficiently.
They will also make rail freight more competitive, support future freight growth and help reduce pressure on regional roads.
The replacement of sleepers (Maroona to Portland) project forms part of ARTC’s Network Investment Program – a joint initiative with the Australian Government – to strengthen and future proof the nation’s rail infrastructure.
Via the program, almost $2.8bn is being invested over seven years to 2032 to support the continued efficient movement of freight around the country.
ARTC senior project manager Katya Moskvina said seeing the sleepers arriving on site was “a real milestone for the project and the communities along the Maroona to Portland line”.
“The upgrade will strengthen the connection to the Port of Portland and support the businesses and regional communities that depend on freight rail,” Ms Moskvina said.
Pacific National group executive intermodal Cramer Ball said they were “proud to be supporting this significant infrastructure upgrade by delivering the materials needed to strengthen one of Victoria's key freight corridors”.
“Projects like this showcase the critical role rail plays in connecting manufacturers, infrastructure projects and regional communities, while helping build a more productive and resilient freight network for the future,” Mr Ball said.