Concrete railway sleepers.
AUSTRALIAN Rail Track Corporation work to upgrade lines in the northern region is continuing on schedule.
The ARTC is replacing about 90,000 timber sleepers with new high- density concrete sleepers to improve track stability and longevity in the region.
A spokesman for the ARTC told The Leader yesterday the new sleepers would require less ongoing maintenance over the course of their life.
“Works are currently taking place south of Scone and the concrete re-sleepering is expected to be through to Dartbrook by the first week of September,” he said.
“To date around 65,097 sleepers have been replaced over 32 days using 22 excavators.”
Other machinery being used to undertake the work includes a pre-lift tamping machine that raises the rail height to the required level and allows the sleepers to be removed and replaced.
It is understood the works will be complete by September 19.