Australian rail line between Melbourne and Sydney to undergo 83.5-hour shutdown

The Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) will implement an 83.5-hour ‘super possession’ rail shutdown between Melbourne and Sydney, starting at 10:30pm on Friday, September 11, until 10am on Tuesday, September 15. During this period, coaches will replace trains to allow approximately 1,300 specialists to conduct maintenance and upgrades across 176 sites in New South Wales and Victoria.

The intensive work program includes track rehabilitation, ballast renewal, and signalling maintenance aimed at reducing delays caused by drainage issues and speed restrictions. The upgrades are expected to reduce freight journey times by up to 30 minutes and provide smoother travel for XPT passengers.

This initiative is part of the nearly $2.8 billion Network Investment Program, a joint effort with the Australian government to modernize rail infrastructure. Additionally, the Sydney–Narromine–Albury Cabling Upgrade (SNACU) will continue, and Inland Rail will utilize the window for major construction, including the demolition of the Marchbanks Road bridge at Broadford.