Queensland Rail’s North Coast rail line across Far North, North and Central part of the state have reopened after track closures for repairs.
Queensland Rail’s Head of Regional Scott Cornish says it is fantastic to see the upgrades completed during a scheduled track closure.
Coaches operated during the closures to ferry passengers between destinations.
“If you’ve ever wondered why our network needs to close from time to time, essential maintenance like what’s happened here is why,” he says.
“This investment is about … ensuring this vital corridor remains safe and efficient for decades to come.”
Cornish says the successful works are the result of meticulous planning carried out statewide.
“During the closure, we had 25 teams from across Queensland mobilised at 18 worksites between St Lawrence and Cairns,” he explains.
Over five days, 1740 sleepers were replaced between Townsville and Cairns with timber bridge repairs between Ingham and Cairns (at Clarkson Creek, Codfish Creek and Coroboree Creek), level crossing maintenance south of Home Hill (Fredrick Field Road and Daniel Road), 3.5 kilometres of track renewals north of Cardwell and turnout and formation repairs.
With a span of about 1435 kilometres running from Brisbane to Queensland, the North Coast line supports 8000 train movements each year, including freight containers, livestock and sugar.
Then there are the long-distance passenger services including the Spirit of Queensland, Spirit of the Outback, Bundaberg and Rockhampton Tilt Trains.
NEW SEQ RAIL STATION OPENS
Meanwhile, Pimpama Station on the Brisbane-Gold Coast line, between Ormeau and Coomera, has opened.
It is the first station to open on the Gold Coast in 16 years; features include 380 car parks, a pedestrian overpass with platform lifts, a 40-bicycle lock-up enclosure, lighting, CCTV, 10 accessible carparking spaces, braille and tactile station maps, hearing aid loop coverage, lifts and seating.
Qld Rail CEO Kat Stapleton says there will be a train at this station about every 10 minutes during peak times and every 30 minutes during off-peak seven days a week.
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