Upgrades as part of the Murray Basin Rail Project have boosted freight capacity on the Ararat to Maryborough Line.
New rail and ballast was installed along the 88-kilometre section of track, increasing freight capacity to 21-tonne axle loading for all wagons. This stage of the project commenced in April 2022 and was completed in December following a 39-day closure of the line.
This upgrade will help to improve efficiency on the line by allowing freight trains to operate with heavier loads.
In a sustainability boost for the project, the rail for the upgrades was delivered by 11 separate freight train trips from South Australia, replacing the equivalent of 357 truck trips for the more than 800-kilometre journey each way.
This helped reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 76 per cent.
20,000 meters of rail removed during the line upgrade has also been sustainably reused on the Daylesford Spa Country Railway.
The project donated and delivered the scrap rail, which will be used to help extend the heritage railway from its current terminus at Bullarto to Trentham as well as replace some sections of the current line.
Construction is underway on a new passing loop at Elmhurst, with other work this year to include passing loops at Emu and Tourello, installing a mobile refuelling station at Ouyen and signalling upgrades at the Ouyen and Maryborough yards.
Learn more about the Murray Basin Rail Project.