BUSES will replace trains on the Hunter Valley rail network between Newcastle and Ulan this week as a major maintenance project gets underway.
The shutdown will run from Tuesday May 25 and is expected to be completed at 8.30pm on Thursday May 27.
More than 1200 workers from the Australian Rail Track Corporation will conduct 212 separate maintenance jobs across the network during the shutdown.
Works include upgrading 290 metres of track formation, replacing a major crossover and major turnout at Quirindi, replacing 8,000 metres of worn rail and removal of fouled ballast.
Passenger services to the North Coast and Maitland will be as per the timetable, but all other regional services will have alternative bus services provided for impacted passengers.
Details and schedules can be found at the Transport for NSW website.
Work also continues on the construction of the Muswellbrook Bridge replacement, which is being built in phases as the eight sections of the bridge are constructed in a specially fabricated casting yard.
"The first section will take longer to complete and then remaining seven will take around three weeks each," ARTC group executive Hunter Valley Network, Wayne Johnson said.
"This type of technique is more commonly observed in the construction of road bridges rather than rail but is good for building bridges that require large span lengths and we would utilise this process again for any future bridge projects."
Currently, the project's completion date is scheduled for June 2022.
