PART of the Hunter's rail network - from Newcastle to Ulan and Narrabri - will be shut down for four days impacting some passenger lines.
The Australian Rail Track Corporation will carry out the major maintenance project from Tuesday, involving about 1200 workers completing more than 400 jobs.
The on-track shutdown maintenance work across the Hunter Valley is due to start at 6.30am on Tuesday and is expected to be completed about 6.30am on Friday.
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 passenger services.
Details and schedules can be found at the Transport for NSW website.
The ARTC said the reconditioning would allow trains to travel faster and more safely.
"We are expecting above average rainfall in the Hunter Valley during autumn and into winter so track reconditioning work is a priority to address drainage and wet ground conditions," ARTC group executive for the Hunter network Wayne Johnson said.
"This type of track maintenance work means we can manage the mud holes which can develop in areas of poor drainage in the rail track ballast.
"It's really important to prevent these because they can lead to the slowing down of the trains, which we want to avoid wherever possible.
"Apart from speed restrictions and reducing the overall efficiency of the network, another problem created by wet ground conditions is issues with track geometry, which can increase noise generation as the train wheels pass over and deformations when brakes are applied.
"Again, this is something we want to minimise, and the reconditioning work proactively addresses this issue."
Works will include:
- Muswellbrook Bridge replacement program
- Upgrading nearly two kilometres of track formation
- Replacing a major crossover and turnout at Maitland
- Replacing around 12 kilometres of worn rail
- 27 track undercutting sites
- Replacing major steel components on nine turnouts
- Track defect removals
- Scheduled maintenance activities
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