Balfour Beatty Rail moving forward on Curve Easing Project in Australia

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Over the next eight months, in the most extensive upgrade to Australia’s interstate rail network, key sections of the main line between Newcastle and the Queensland border are being straightened.

The work will reduce the severity of the curves at some 58 locations by realigning the existing track; improvements, which once completed, will allow trains to run at higher speeds.

Balfour Beatty Rail has set up three regional offices at Taree, Coffs Harbour and Casino to cover the length of the project but the main office will still operate out of Newcastle.

The earthworks on sites 68 and 70, which are located near Casino, are nearing completion, with sites 66 and 71 still under construction.

The trackworks on sites 68 and 70 will follow on where Balfour Beatty Rail will be trialing a new method of realigning large sections of the track using Pem Lems. Sites 46 and 47, in Area C, are still under construction and work has just started on Area A.

There are currently 15 sites at detailed design stage and six are at the IFC point. Area B is still under negotiation with the contact award expected in a few weeks.

BB Rail are also at detailed design stage for The Kolodong Road Level Crossing Rationalisation project and are already well into public consultation stage.

The North Coast Curve Easing project will increase capacity and cut transit times along Australia’s eastern seaboard by 44 minutes North Bound and 35 minutes Southbound.

Other benefits of the programme are reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, reduction in above and below rail maintenance costs and overall improved competitiveness of rail freight.

With one 1500m train being equal to 100 semi-trailers, fewer trucks will be using the North Coast roads.

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