New Hunter crossing loop at Wilpinjong

Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) has reached another milestone in the upgrade of the Hunter Valley rail corridor on the Ulan line with a new passing loop brought online at Wilpinjong, between Muswellbrook and Mudgee.

The passing loop cost around $18.1 million to build and involved ARTC constructing new track to accommodate 1350m trains. The project required the installation of 1,900m of track including 60kg rail and 3,100 concrete sleepers and was completed a month ahead of schedule.

ARTC CEO John Fullerton explained that the new passing loop at Wilpinjong is a key milestone in the ongoing upgrade of the Hunter Valley rail corridor on the Ulan line which is essential for the network to keep ahead of increasing demand for coal from the region.

“Demand for coal from the Hunter Valley is set to nearly double over the next 5 years. The construction of the new passing loop at Wilpinjong will increase capacity on the rail network and ensure that the rail component of the Hunter Valley Coal Chain remains ahead of forecast increases in market demand,” Mr Fullerton said.

The project was delivered by ARTC and its alliance partners; Ulan+ Alliance and AANCSA.

Melbourne train passenger satisfaction rises

Victorian Minister for Public Transport Terry Mulder says that passenger satisfaction with Melbourne's trains had risen in the September 2011 quarter and was now at its highest in more than five years.

Mr Mulder said that each year, the Department of Transport engaged contractors to conduct about 12,000 interviews for passengers using Victoria and Melbourne's public transport modes.

"Since 8 May 2011 Metro timetable changes, overall passenger satisfaction with Metro's trains measured by this ongoing survey has risen from 58.3 index points in the June quarter 2011 to 62.3 index points in the September quarter 2011,” he said.

Punctuality on the Belgrave, Cranbourne, Frankston, Glen Waverley, Pakenham, Sandringham, Frankston – Stony Point, Sydenham, Upfield and Werribee lines was higher in September 2011 than the 12 month average while the Lilydale line declined by a narrow 0.1%.

September 2011 train timekeeping on the Sandringham line saw almost 24 in every 25 trains were punctual, with only 4.3% of trains more than five minutes late arriving at their terminus. The busy Frankston, Cranbourne and Pakenham lines recorded improvements compared with the 12 month average, while trains on lines such as Werribee serving fast growing suburbs were reportedly also more punctual.

Ongoing works on the Epping and Hurstbridge lines should improve train timekeeping which, although meeting Metro's September 2011 monthly target of no more than 12% of trains arriving at destinations five minutes or more late, had declined by 0.5% and 1% compared with the 12 month average.

"Track duplication between Keon Park and Epping along with improved signalling on the outer section of the Hurstbridge line beyond Greensborough should make it easier for trains to keep to time," Mr Mulder said.

GSR’s Indian Pacific set to entertain

Indigenous singer-actress Jessica Mauboy will be the star entertainer aboard this year's Christmas Special of the Indian Pacific transcontinental train. Darwin-born Jessica Mauboy, 22, first gained national attention when she was runner-up in the 2006 Australian Idol TV show. Since then her recordings have made the ARIA charts and won awards.

On the Indian Pacific’s December 7-10 journey from Sydney to Perth, Jessica will sing a mix of her own hit songs and Christmas carols to fans in cities, towns and tiny isolated communities along the way. Great Southern Rail says spreading pre-Christmas cheer is its way of thanking communities along the Indian Pacific's route for their long-standing support of the train.

Acting Chief Executive of Great Southern Rail, Russell Westmoreland commented: "Kids at the more remote outback communities en route treasure the chance to sing with a superstar and to catch a glimpse of Father Christmas!"

The event raises awareness and funds for the Australian Royal Flying Doctor Service and members of the public are invited to attend the free concerts at Sydney, Bathurst, Broken Hill, Adelaide, Watson, Rawlinna, Kalgoorlie and Perth.

For concert dates and times, visit www.greatsouthernrail.com.au.

There will be more fun and frolics on board the famous train early next year when it will ‘come out of its closet’ with a 2012 Mardi Gras special.

Its carriages decorated with ‘glitter and feathered boas’ will leave Adelaide on Friday, March 2 heading for Sydney, arriving at 10.15am the next day - just in time for the annual Mardi Gras street parade.

On the way, it will call at Broken Hill where guests will be taken to a gala show at the famed Palace Hotel, where part of the 1994 hit movie The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert was filmed.

A Great Southern Rail spokesperson said, "The Indian Pacific, Queen of the Rails, will be hosting queens of a more colourful variety" on this trip. The train will be "at its glitzy best, jam-packed with sparkle and celebration - and a crew that would be gay-friendly".

 NSW Richmond line upgrade completed

The duplication project between Quakers Hill and Schofields on the Blacktown to Richmond commuter line, including the opening of the new Schofields Station, was commissioned at the end of October. 

The new station and extra rail services which come with the completion of this stage of the duplication will mean commuters will have access to an additional 42 train services at Schofields station each week - this includes eight additional services to and from the City on weekdays and one additional service on Saturdays and Sundays.

The new Schofields Station is approximately 800 metres from the existing station and will provide rail customers with improved services and facilities, including:

·                     230 commuter car parking spaces

·                     Lift access to the overhead concourse and platforms;

·                     Disabled parking near the lifts;

·                     Kiss and Ride passenger drop off zones;

·                     Bus interchange and taxi zones;

·                     Bicycle facilities; and,

·                     CCTV camera surveillance.