Jordan Rail
Rail · Construction · Maintenance
ARTC M2P Methodology
Maroona to Portland — resleepering and track upgrade methodology
Overview
Methodology for the ARTC Maroona to Portland (M2P) corridor upgrade, developed with Rhomberg Sersa Rail Group (RSA). It covers the scope of works, program, rosters, crew methodology and plant, RSA-supplied items and the key risks to delivery across the 173 km corridor.
Scope of Works
- ~250,000 timber sleepers replaced with low-profile concrete sleepers across the corridor
- Up to 287,000 timber sleepers removed and managed/disposed of
- ~9,000 existing concrete sleepers recovered and reused in loops and sidings
- 173 km of rail corridor from Maroona to Portland upgraded
- 24 active level crossings requiring signalling interface management during delivery
- 9 full level crossing renewals: 7 passive gravel crossings, 1 passive occupation crossing and 1 active asphalt crossing
- 5 pedestrian crossing renewals
- 12 level crossings requiring ballast undercutting and drainage improvements
- 5 occupation crossings plus 1 illegal occupation crossing and 1 take-off removed and reinstated
- 22 rail bridges requiring repairs and renewals (kerbs, ballast plates, concrete repairs)
- 2 culvert replacements plus additional culvert cleaning and drainage works
- ~29.6 km of cess drains restored and cleaned
- ~6 rail km of re-railing near Portland, including conversion of jointed rail to CWR
- 8 crossing loop turnouts included as provisional tamping works
- ~64,000 sleeper dunnage units to be recovered and consolidated
Scope Layout
The scope layout runs from Portland Yard (KM 405.256) to the End of Resleeper Scope (KM 232.135). Signal requirements (yes / maybe / no) and traffic management are flagged location by location on the layout charts.
Resleepering exclusions
Most passive and active level crossings and all underbridges are not resleepered — level crossings are taken off for maintenance tamping only.
Turnouts
Turnouts within the corridor are retimbered; platforms are treated by side insertion.
Level crossing renewals
Renewals include Basset Rd, Slaters Plantation Rd, Coleraine Rd, McMillans Rd, Water Reserve/Mill Rd, Boundary Rd, Holmes Rd and Edgarley Estate Rd, plus pedestrian crossings at Mt Napier Rd, Tyers St and Dunlop St.
Occupation crossings
Occupation crossings are closed with side insertion, or removed and reinstated after side insertion, depending on location.
Undercutting
20 m undercuts either side of selected level crossings and at other nominated locations.
Portland
Full track reconstruction of 630 m at Portland Yard, including the pedestrian level crossing. Portland works run 24 hours.
Program — Key Dates
Key dates and phase durations from the construction program.
ATP Works — Resleepering
5 blocks (4–5 blocks)
Resleeper
1 Oct 27 to 26 Feb 28 — 10 blocks
Drainage
9 Oct 27 to 27 Feb 28 — 10 blocks
Portland
24-hour works
Resurfacing
Starts 13 Feb 28 — 2 weeks of resurfacing
Program — Phases
- Construction works — 348 days
- Enabling works and ATP working — 50 days (resleepering PRS 1 in 6 to enable resleepering on a face, plus material deliveries)
- Possession works — 296 days
- Resleeper and level crossing milestones — 113 days (Resleeper Crew)
- Drainage scope — 100 days (Drainage Crew)
- Level crossing upgrades — 74 days (Level Crossing Crew)
- Turnout retimbering and plating — 28 days (Level Crossing Crew)
- Culvert scopes — 45 days (Structures Crew)
- Bridge repairs — 31 days (Structures Crew)
- Portland — 14 days (Structures Crew)
- Resurfacing — 11 days (Resurfacing Crew)
- Post possession works — 52 days: collection of redundant materials, disposal/donation of old rail sleepers to a rail museum, ancillary works (signage, fencing) and site clean up
Rosters
Five crews, working a 12/2 roster or a 10/4 roster.
- Resleeper Crew
- Level Crossing Crew
- Structures Crew
- Resurfacing Crew
- Drainage Crew
Resleeper Crew
Four resleeper crew methods are under consideration. Plant for each method is to be confirmed.
Method 1 — 250,000 sleepers on a face
Production requirement: 2,500 sleepers per day based on 100 shifts. Plant: to be confirmed.
Method 2 — 1 in 6 sleepers done ATP
208,333 sleepers on a face. Production requirement: 2,000 sleepers per day based on 100 shifts. Plant (ATP and possession): to be confirmed.
Method 3 — 2 in 8 sleepers done as a separate crew
187,500 sleepers on a face. Production requirement: 1,875 sleepers per day based on 100 shifts. Plant (PRS and on a face): to be confirmed.
Method 4 — Skim recon sections of track (23.8 km)
228,000 sleepers on a face. Production requirement: 2,280 sleepers per day based on 100 shifts. Plant (skim and side insertion): to be confirmed.
Drainage Crew
Cess drainage — 29 km
Average 500 m per location over 50 locations, the majority in cuttings. Production requirement: 300 m of cess drain per day. Plant: to be confirmed.
Level Crossing Crew
Level crossing and pedestrian upgrades
9 level crossing upgrades and 5 pedestrian upgrades. Plant: to be confirmed.
Undercutting outside level crossings
12 level crossings require undercutting outside of the level crossing. Plant: to be confirmed.
Turnout retimbering
13 turnouts to be retimbered. Plant: to be confirmed.
RSA Supplied Items
RSA to supply:
- Ballast
- Haulage for materials
- Site compound and security
- Crane trucks for sleeper disposal
- Bearers and jewellery
- Signal support
Risks
Risks to scope and the issues still to be resolved.
Access limitations
How much of the corridor is accessible. Hi-rail only sections may slow down production. Material distribution through these sections.
Weather
Heat buckles in track from PRS, wet weather and heat exhaustion. Control rail buckling in extreme heat; wet weather can impact production and access.
Not meeting production requirements
Self acceleration? How to manage daily progress.
Ballast deliveries
Ballast distribution over the entire 176 km. Localised stockpiles?
Local community
Access via private properties and community involvement.
Blocks of LAFHA
Crews fatigued after a few blocks — do we need change outs?