Newy 87.8 FM – The Australian Rail Track Corporation will close the Hunter Valley rail corridor for 72 hours, from 6:30am Tuesday 22 September to 6:30am Friday 25 September, for a major maintenance program.
Around 1,000 workers — 900 contractors and 100 ARTC employees — will be deployed across 135 sites on the network.
Works span three corridor sections: Warabrook/Kooragang to Muswellbrook, Muswellbrook to Ulan, and Muswellbrook to Turrawan. The scope includes track renewal and reconditioning, bridge and culvert repairs and replacements, rerailing, rail adjusting, level crossing upgrades and repairs, and signal and civil defect rectification.
At least 10 temporary speed restrictions will be removed, reducing journey times. Additional overnight main-line closures will run 8:20pm to 3:30am on Tuesday 22 and Wednesday 23 September.
"This shutdown allows us to deliver essential maintenance and upgrades that improve the safety, reliability and resilience of the Hunter Valley network," ARTC Group Executive Operations Clinton Crump said.
Coaches will replace NSW TrainLink services during the shutdown. Transport for NSW says buses will replace trains between Scone and Maitland from Tuesday to Thursday and on Friday morning, and between Scone, Dungog and Newcastle Interchange on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings. Customers should check transportnsw.info or call 13 22 32, with road closure details at livetraffic.com.
Nearby residents can expect noise, light and dust, with rail machinery active on the lines. ARTC says accommodation and hospitality businesses in Maitland, Singleton, Muswellbrook and Denman will host the visiting workforce.
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