A $30.3 million investment in the Bathurst to Parkes rail line is set deliver a major boost to rail freight and passenger capacity and lay the foundations to meet growing transport demand to and from the Central West.
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Deputy Premier, and Minister for Regional Transport and Roads and Member for Bathurst Paul Toole, said the NSW Government has invested $12.6 million to build a new loop at Pinecliffe and $17.7 million to upgrade existing crossing loops at Polona and Bumberry.
"Crossing loops are the rail equivalent of overtaking lanes, allowing modern and longer freight trains to pass each other and creating additional capacity on the busy western line," he said.
"We know how valuable projects like these are to rail freight operators in reducing congestion and improving reliability - and ultimately bringing down supply chain costs.
"A new 1800 metre loop has been built at Pinecliffe and is now in operation, while the existing loop at Polona has been extended from 900m to 1800m, with construction under way for another 800m crossing loop extension at Bumberry, creating hundreds of jobs between them at the peak of construction.
"All loops will be controlled by modern remote electronic signalling allowing more freight services to operate on this section of the network without disrupting passenger services," said Mr Toole.
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Pinecliffe is approximately 10 kilometres north of Manildra, while the Polona loop is just south of Millthorpe.
Bumberry, of course, is halfway between Parkes and Manildra.
Chairman of The Freight on Rail group, Dean Dalla Valle, said the increase in rail capacity is welcome news for the industry.
"Projects like these are critical to delivering reliable, efficient rail freight industry needs with the NSW regional freight task expected to increase 12 per cent in the next 15 years," he said.
The work is being carried out by John Holland, on behalf of Transport for NSW.
The Polona and Pinecliffe projects are now operational, while Bumberry is due for completion in early 2022, weather permitting.
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