ARTC Launches 5-Day “Super Possession” Across Sydney-Melbourne Corridor for $1B Upgrade

Sydney-Melbourne super possession is planned for this weekend. Australian Rail Track Corporation, or ARTC, will carry out maintenance and construction on the corridor. This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

According to ARTC, the closure will cover Chullora to Melbourne. It spans New South Wales and Victoria. It is scheduled to begin at 10.30pm on Friday May 1. It will continue until 11pm on Tuesday May 5.

At the same time, the possession will also include Inland Rail activity in Victoria. Both sets of work stay within the May 1 to May 5 window.

ARTC works on the Sydney-Melbourne rail corridor

Crews will install two new crossovers at Joppa Junction, near Goulburn. ARTC said the work marks an important milestone in the Southern Highlands Overtaking Opportunities project.

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Also, ARTC said the upgrades will help rail services move more efficiently. This covers freight and passenger services between Sydney and Melbourne.

In addition, track rehabilitation is planned at Bargo, Tahmoor and Tennessee in New South Wales.

The program forms part of the $1 billion Network Investment Program. It is jointly funded with the Australian Government.

The works are intended to improve corridor reliability, ride quality and travel times.

Separately, crews will carry out other maintenance activities to strengthen the rail line. This includes upgrades to signalling systems and rail bridges.

Inland Rail works and replacement coaches

Meanwhile, Inland Rail will complete rail and construction works at eight Victorian sites. The sites are located from Wandong to Benalla.

At Wandong, the old Broadford-Wandong Road bridge will be demolished. In addition, track lowering will also be carried out at Broadford, Tallarook and Seymour.

The coordinated program will close key parts of the Sydney-Melbourne corridor in stages. The affected parts include Cootamundra and Parkes. The staged closures start at 10.30pm on Friday May 1. They continue until 11pm on Tuesday May 5.

Also, coaches will replace all NSW Trainlink and V/Line services. The replacement applies between May 1 and May 5.

Clinton Crump, Group Executive Operations at ARTC, said: “This significant planned shutdown allows us to complete critical maintenance and upgrades to support the long-term performance of the Sydney to Melbourne and Cootamundra to Parkes rail corridors.

“Importantly the major infrastructure works will improve reliability, support faster and more efficient services, and strengthen the resilience of the network for the future.

ARTC would like to thank the community for their patience as we undertake these critical long-term improvements.”

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