- Contract awarded for construction of the Southern Highland Overtaking Opportunities project
- The project will allow for more efficient movement of freight and passenger rail services between Sydney and Melbourne
- Early site works to begin mid-August ahead of major works beginning in September
A $54.1 million rail project to ease congestion on a key freight and passenger route between Sydney and Melbourne is progressing with the contract awarded for its construction.
Australian Rail Track Corporation has awarded the contract for the Southern Highland Overtaking Opportunities project to Abergeldie Complex Infrastructure with early site works to begin mid-August ahead of major works beginning in September.
The project, which is being supported by a $41.56 million contribution by the Australian Government, will deliver overtaking opportunities for trains at Werai in the Southern Highlands, and Joppa Junction near Goulburn.
When completed, the project will allow for more efficient movement of freight and passenger rail services, enabling freight trains up to 1,800 metres in length to be overtaken by faster services on the crucial Sydney to Melbourne rail line.
The scope of works includes signalling construction, testing and commissioning, installation of eight new track crossovers, with civil embankment works and access road improvements to support the works.
Abergeldie was selected to carry out the wo rks following the completion of a competitive tendering process. The infrastructure builder has successfully delivered multiple projects for
ARTC and has more than 30 years' experience delivering major civil and rail projects across Australia for the public and private sector.
The project is due for completion in 2026.
Clinton Crump, Acting Group Executive Operations, ARTC said:
"We are pleased to award the construction contract on this project, which will improve efficiency for freight and passenger services along this nationally critical rail corridor.
At ARTC we're focused on building a better network, and the Southern Highlands Overtaking Opportunities project represents our continued commitment to making rail the transport mode of choice."
