Ballast Replacement, Ardglen NSW

Swietelsky Rail Australia (SRA) has been the exclusive provider of mechanised ballast cleaning services for the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC)'s Heavy Haul Hunter Valley network since 2014.

SRA's fleet of ballast cleaners offers versatility, capable of performing traditional ballast cleaning or executing full-section ballast replacement in severely fouled conditions.

The project site at Ardglen, NSW, posed unique challenges, including limited site access, ineffective drainage system and extreme ballast fouling.

SRA's comprehensive "fence-to-fence" improvement approach addressed these challenges, delivering significant rail corridor enhancements. These included drainage works, ballast replacement, level crossing and access upgrades, undercutting, and vegetation control across the 20km project site.

The project was successfully completed with an on-time handback and an incident-free closedown.

Project Stats:

• Network | Hunter Valley, Heavy Haul
• Location | Ardglen NSW
• Works Program | Within 72hour Major Possession
• Ballast Replacement Complete | 2km
• Drainage Improvements | 8.6km
• Additional Ballast Undercutting | 70m
• Replacement of damaged sleepers | 70 units
• Level crossing upgraded with new asphalt approaches and drainage system | 1 unit
• Scope | Multidisciplinary applying a "fence to fence" betterment approach including of spoil management, material deliveries, site coordination, drainage works, vegetation control, level crossing management and upgrades.
• Conformance | Completed sections handed back at line speed
• Project Completion | October 2024