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Also
see our Photo Album of the event
The
first piece of track has now been laid for the Alice Springs
to Darwin railway at an historic ceremony in Katherine on
Monday 8 April.
Northern
Territory Chief Minister Clare Martin, South Australian Premier
Mike Rann and Senator Ron Boswell, representing the Prime
Minister, unveiled a plaque to mark the occasion.
President
and CEO of KBR - one of the major sponsors for the project
- Randy Harl, also attended the ceremony.
The
laying of the first track marks an important milestone in
the massive infrastructure project. Track will be initially
laid south of Katherine and north of Tennant Creek, meeting
somewhere in the middle later this year.
Tracklaying
then starts north of Katherine towards Darwin and south of
Tennant Creek towards Alice Springs in about 12 months.
Although
some track had already been laid by hand, the ceremony saw
ADrail commence automated tracklaying for the first time.
About
300 people attended the Katherine ceremony, held on the site
of tracklaying just south of Katherine.
They
were treated to a bus tour of the sleeper factory and welding
yards, followed by a ceremony featuring the Jarraluk Dancers
from Beswick and a song by children from Katherine's Clyde
Fenton school.
But
the real feature of the day was watching the automated track
layer start up and begin laying sleepers and rail line.
Guests
included a who's who of people who have been involved with
the project, including former workers on the old Darwin to
Birdum Railway line, former Premiers, Chief Ministers and
politicians who have worked to make the railway a reality,
contractors involved with the project and business people
planning on using the completed railway.
SA
Premier Mike Rann spoke about both the tourism and economic
development potential of the railway, which is due for completion
in early 2004. Senator Boswell paid tribute to the many people
who had "kept the faith" in the railway project
for more than 100 years.
NT
Chief Minister Clare Martin praised the partnerships which
existed between the public and private sector to bring the
project to fruition.
See
our Photo Album, which contains high resolution images of
the event
For
more information on the railway project, visit the AustralAsia
Railway Corporation website at www.aarc.com.au
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