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Prime
Minister John Howard discusses the progress of the project with
AustralAsia Railway Corporation's Deputy CEO Brendan Lawson (left)
and ADrails Project Director Al Volpe
Prime Minister
Howard talking with ADrail's Northern Tracklaying crew near Adelaide
River 5 August 2003
Tracklayer
progressing across the
Adelaide River Bridge
Tracklayer
passing the old Adelaide River Railway Station - 29 July 2003
Looking
north across Adelaide
River Bridge
(note the old railway bridge on left) - 29 July 2003
Public
on south bank of Adelaide River awaiting
tracklayer - 29 July 2003
Tracklayer
reaches the north Abutment of the
Adelaide River Bridge - 29 July 2003
Looking
north across Adelaide
River Bridge
(note the old railway bridge on left) - 29 July 2003
Tracklayer
on the Adelaide River
Railway Bridge-September 02
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WELCOME TO RAILWAY eNEWS. - 8 August
2003
IN THIS EDITION:
PROJECT
NEWS
- As part of his trip to the Northern
Territory, Prime Minister John Howard inspected tracklaying activities
and spoke with ADrail workers at Adelaide River. (see
story)
- The Northern Territory Government
has launched an education campaign aimed at raising the awareness of
community responsibilities in upholding the highest level of safety
at railway crossings. (see
NTG Media Release)
- Although construction of the track
is expected to be completed by the end of October 2003, there will be
completion and commissioning processes and procedures that need to be
carried out in order for the line to be declared 'fit for purpose',
once completed, commercial operations can then begin.
- On 17 June FreightLink released
the date for their inaugural freight train to Darwin arriving on 17
January 2004, with GSR's announcement several days later their inaugural
passenger train will arrive in Darwin on 3 February 2004. Further details
about the AustralAsia Railway's inauguration and the series of celebrations
will be made available in the coming months, please check our website
for updated information. (more
info)
- Over the next few months, tracklaying
will be completed over the full length of the railway line, a few of
the forthcoming milestones of completion are:
- the final flash butt weld of short welded rail into long welded rail
sections,
- the last rail delivery from OneSteel in South Australia to Katherine
and Tennant Creek,
- the last concrete pour of sleepers at Katherine and Tennant Creek
Sleeper Manufacturing Plants,
- the joining of the track from Tarcoola to the new section in Alice
Springs, and
-the completion of Tracklaying at the Port of Darwin.
An international freight symposium
will be held in Darwin on 9 and 10 February next year to coincide with
the start of railway operations on the AustralAsia Trade Route. (more
info)
CONSTRUCTION
HIGHLIGHTS
Progress on construction of the railway
is proceeding well with only 190 km of track to be laid, 83 km to Alice
Springs and 107 km to Darwin (to 29 July). Tracklaying is scheduled for
completion by October, when testing on the line will be undertaken before
it is ready for commencement of regular scheduled services in January
2004. Highlights of construction since the last eNews include:
- The completion of clearing and
embankment construction,
- The completion of all Grade Separate
Crossings (overpasses),
- The construction of level crossings
in the Darwin area,
- The commencement of construction
on buildings at the Berrimah Yard, and
- The crossing of the Adelaide River
Bridge. (see
story)
- The Construction Progress Map
at http://www.aarc.com.au/aarc/info/progress.html
has been updated with statistics quoted to the 29 July - A few highlights
are:
Darwin
- Latest employment figures (to 30/6/03) show 136 Darwin residents are
directly employed on the construction of the railway.
- The completion of construction of level crossings between Adelaide
River and Darwin prior to the commencement of tracklaying, signalling
works will be completed over the coming months and crossing signals
will become operational as the tracklayer progresses towards Darwin.
- Tracklaying in the ARR section (between Adelaide River and Darwin)
commenced in late July with the Adelaide River Railway Bridge crossed
on 29 July. (see
story)
- The Stuart Highway overpass south of Adelaide River (KR190) was completed
and opened to traffic.
- Earthworks continued within the Berrimah Yard area and are currently
meeting production quantities. Steelworks on the locomotive workshop
and refuelling buildings were completed.
- The NT Government and its consultant are proceeding with design of
the passenger terminal and storage siding at Berrimah and earthworks
on the NT Government's Business Park are well advanced.
- Construction at the East Arm Wharf development is continuing, including
the relocation of the container crane from the Fort Hill Wharf. (see
NTG Media Release). For details on progress of all components of the
works, see DIPE Factsheet at http://www.nt.gov.au/ipe/dtw/projects/factsheets/EastArmWharf.pdf
Katherine
- The latest employment figures
(to 30/6/03) show 127 Katherine residents directly employed on the construction
of the railway.
- Tracklaying was completed in the
KR Section (between Katherine and Adelaide River) in late July and commenced
in the ARR section.
- Sleeper production is 98% complete
with 920,500 of the required 943,200 sleepers produced.
- Flash Butt rail welding continues
with 37,614 welds complete.
Tennant Creek
- Latest employment figures (to
30/6/03) show 125 Tennant Creek residents directly employed on the construction
of the railway.
- Tracklaying south from Tennant
Creek is complete to 392 km with only 83 km remaining to be laid to
reach Alice Springs
- Production of sleepers from the
Tennant Creek Depot reached 1,027,200 (98%.
Alice Springs
- Approximately 144,000 tonnes of
rail has so far been delivered to the Roe Creek Logistic Centre by rail
from OneSteel Whyalla SA to be trucked north to Tennant Creek and Katherine
depots.
- Construction of the Stuart Highway
overpass north of Alice Springs (ASR17) was completed in June and opened
to road traffic.
- The latest employment figures
(to 30/6/03) show 37 Alice Springs residents directly employed on the
project.
South Austraila
- At present (to 30/6/03) 64 South
Australians are directly employed on the construction of the railway.
- South Australian industry has
so far been awarded contracts valued at over $347 million.
LATEST
PROGRESS MAP AVAILABLE NOW
The latest progress map is available on our internet site at
http://www.aarc.com.au/aarc/info/progress.html
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