Inland Rail is cautioning motorists travelling betyween Parkes and Narromine to take care on level crossings.
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"Ballast and construction trains are frequently passing level crossings, so please obey all signs to stop and look for trains," Inland Rail advised this week.
The recent rainfalls have been welcomed by the region and construction of the Parkes to Narromine section is still progressing well despite a few slow days with 68km of rail in place at the end of March.
Fascinating construction facts:
- 155,000 tonnes of ballast laid (bottom and top ballast)
- 163,000 sleepers laid
- 53km of tamping (adjusting the rail into place) completed
- 12 turnouts installed
- 68km of rail laid
- 1,490,000 tonnes of new formation materials used
- 183,000m3 stabilised general fill re-used.
As one of the nation's largest infrastructure projects, Inland Rail is also considered essential to continue to provide jobs, drive economic opportunity and maintain momentum on future-proofing the national supply chain.
"We recognise our responsibilities to everyone working on Inland Rail and continue to follow COVID-19 advice from public health authorities while adapting our operations to further ensure the safety of our people and the communities in which we live and work," a spokesperson for Inland Rail said.
Between December 2018 and March 2020 1718 people have been employed on the Parkes to Narromine project, 718 in a sustainable role.
A sustainable role, Inland Rail said, means they have been employed for 26 weeks or more for a minimum of 15 hours a week.
Six hundred and sixty seven of the 1718 employed on the project are local residents with 266 tradies contracted.
Employment on the Parkes to Narromine project between December 2018 and March 2020
- 1718 people in total
- 667 local residents
- 289 Indigenous people
- 165 local Indigenous people
- 718 people employed in a sustainable role
- 63 women
- 266 tradespeople.
"Even with the restrictions on face-to-face engagement, we're adapting to this new landscape and changing how we communicate to stay connected with our communities and other stakeholders," Inland Rail said.
"We're also continuing construction of the Parkes to Narromine project, taking all necessary precautions to protect the health of our workforce and the local community.
"Infrastructure spend can provide the certainty businesses need during these unprecedented times and we're challenging ourselves to think beyond the norm to support our suppliers, including local and small businesses.
