Saturday, 21 January 2023 16:34
BLUE MOUNTAINS LINE BACK ON TRACK
PASSENGER services on the main western rail line in the Blue Mountains will resume tomorrow following a recent freight train derailment.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW Paul Toole said a service from Lithgow to Sydney was the first passenger train through now that repairs to the track between Lawson and Linden have been completed.
“Crews have put in a mammoth effort to get this line reopened, replacing 18.1 kilometres of damaged track, installing more than 15,000 new sleepers and 24,000 tonnes of ballast and replacing or repairing 92 pieces of signalling equipment," Mr Toole said.
“I thank local residents for their patience; their cooperation has allowed us to get the job done as quickly as possible.”
Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Sam Farraway said Transport for NSW and Sydney Trains had to rebuild the entire damaged track in extremely difficult terrain, which required detailed planning and specialist engineering expertise.
“The Blue Mountains rail line is a critical freight corridor linking east with west,” Mr Farraway said.
“We worked closely with the freight industry during the repair period, opening the adjacent track to allow for diesel freight train movements across this critical supply chain.
“It’s great news that following the completion of repairs, full freight access will resume on the Blue Mountains line, as well as intercity and regional passenger train services.
“I’d like to thank our rail freight industry, passengers and the local community for their patience and understanding while the repairs were undertaken. I would also like to acknowledge the professionalism of the engineering and trackwork teams who completed the significant repairs to the rail corridor.”
THE MASSIVE RECOVERY TASK BY THE NUMBERS
Damage to infrastructure spanned about 10km, comprising broken rail and damaged and broken concrete sleepers, signaling equipment and electrical assets.
Removed and disposed of 15,000 concrete sleepers (which will be recycled).
Removed and disposed of more than 18km of broken and damaged rail (which will be recycled).
Removed 24,000 tonnes of spoil and ballast.
Removed 92 pieces of critical signaling equipment.
Installed 26,500 tonnes of new ballast to build and stabilise the ground the track, sleepers and rail.
Replaced more than 15,000 concrete sleepers, each weighing approximately 300kg, with the terrain requiring manual handling to position and align each sleeper.
Installed and clipped into position more than 18.1km of new rail.
Welded and adjusted more than 210 sections of rail to ensure alignment.
Installed 92 pieces of new critical signaling equipment.
Installed 1.1km of electrical leads.
Tested 16km of signaling infrastructure
Inspected and adjusted more than 17km of overhead wiring
More than 140 frontline staff worked each shift, with a total of 420 staff working within each 24-hour window
More than 70 pieces of specialised machinery were used during each shift.
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Saturday, 21 January 2023 16:09
LABOR ANNOUNCES PLAN FOR COUNTRY MUSIC
LABOR has launched its plan for Country Music in NSW, with a commitment to complete the state’s first Regional Music Census, mapping music venues, performances and music infrastructure across regional NSW for the first time.
An analysis of the latest data from Liquor and Gaming shows that NSW has slipped dramatically behind Victoria when it comes to regional music venues, with just 48 specific music venues in regional NSW compared to 308 music venues in regional Victoria - less than a sixth as many.
Based on Victorian research, the economic gain to NSW of closing that gap would be nearly $450 million in extra economic activity each year.
The Regional Music Census would be completed alongside a music census for Sydney venues, with both to be completed by the end of 2023.
Other elements of Labor’s plan to support country music over four years include:
• Guaranteed funding for five Country Music Association of Australia Academy of Country Music Senior Scholarships per year, $40,000 to support the Academy to deliver their country music education and professional development programs, and $7,500 per year to send the leading graduate to Nashville.
• Working as a priority to set up a Special Entertainment Precinct in Tamworth, along with local live music venues and Tamworth Regional Council to guarantee the long term future of the Tamworth Country Music Festival.
• A commitment to country music representation on the Contemporary Music Artform board.
Making this announcement at the Tamworth Country Music Festival, John Graham, Shadow Minister for the Arts, Music and the Night Time Economy said: “Country music in NSW has huge potential given our talented artists, the importance of the Tamworth festival and the grip country music has on the heartstrings of the biggest music market in the world.”
“We want to see that potential grow, especially after a hard couple of years for the industry.”
“We need to back our regional venues to make that possible and rebuild the regional touring circuit that is so important to the country music scene.”
“The first step is this stocktake on the regional venues we have, which allows us to build from there.”
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Wednesday, 18 January 2023 19:25
IT'S AN EPIDEMIC OF A DIFFERENT KIND
Young tradies are taking their own lives
A DEADLY epidemic is devastating the young Tradies in Sydney workplaces and it is not Covid-19 or the flu.
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