More than 63 kilometres of existing rail line have been removed as part of the Inland Rail construction in Parkes, New South Wales.
In addition, more than 100,000 cubic metres of material has been removed as part of the ongoing earthworks.
Removed tracks will be recycled and repurposed for Pacific National’s Intermodal Terminal in Parkes, as well as other parts of the NSW rail network.
The first section of works takes place between Parkes and Narromine, and is the first of a total 13 Inland Rail projects spanning more than 1700 kilometres.
The project, a partnership between the Australasian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC), the Federal Government and private sector, aims to upgrade the national freight network between Melbourne and Brisbane by developing regional lines across Victoria, NSW and Queensland.
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The works are being carried out by INLink, a joint venture between BMD Group and Fulton Hogan, which is focused on upgrading existing links, building new embankments and culverts, and upgrading signage, signals, level crossings and fencing.
The ARTC said it would install more than 4000 culverts across the project in total.
Neighbouring projects include the southerly Stockinbingal to Parkes project and northerly Narromine to Narrabri project, which are both currently in the project feasibility stage.
The ARTC held its first community forum on the project, with two more set to follow on June 19 at the ARTC Community and Working Hub in Parkes and on June 20 at Peak Hill RSL in Peak Hill.