The laying of tracks over the Katherine River this morning
was an historic moment for the $1.3 billion Alice to Darwin railway,
Chief Minister, Clare Martin, said today.
"The track-laying machine has completed almost 400 kilometres
of the 1420 kilometre line but today involved the first crossing of
a major bridge," she said. "The Katherine River
Bridge was only recently constructed, so with today’s crossing we are
also celebrating its completion."
Ms Martin said the bridge crossing required tracklaying
to head northwards from Katherine (towards Darwin) for the first time,
stopping at the quarry 20 kilometres from town. "This will allow ballast
supplies to be directly loaded onto a train and then sent southward
to continue building the line towards Tennant Creek."
Today’s crossing was witnessed by media, employees and
others including the Chief Minister, Clare Martin and Katherine Mayor,
Jim Forscutt.
Ms
Martin said ADrail, in conjunction with traditional owners, also today
named the two Katherine based locomotives, selecting Kurra Kurraka and
Wagiman.
"The Alice to Darwin railway is a fantastic project
currently providing approximately 1273 jobs and training (789 in the
Territory), and contributing $758 million in business contracts ($433m
in NT). Almost 800 kilometres of earthworks has already been completed
along with approx 700,000 sleepers, 1.2 million tonnes of ballast and
32,000 flash-butt welds."
"The arrival of the first freight train (expected early
2004) will provide a logistics corridor linking the Southern Australian
markets to the North, including the lucrative Asian markets, while the
first passenger train will travel through the Territory in less than
2 years time."
"The railway, which has been promised since 1911, is
nearing completion and the Territory Government is proud to deliver
this project."
A Katherine Community Open Day will be held tomorrow
and a locomotive naming ceremony will be held on Tuesday 24th September
in Tennant Creek.
