Inland Rail trackwork contractor selected

AUSTRALIA: Australian Rail Track Corp has selected Martinus for the Rail Corridor Programme contract, which covers tracklaying and level crossing works on 574∙5 km of the Inland Rail corridor in New South Wales and southern Queensland.

The agreement announced on December 7 covers the route between Narromine, Narrabri and North Star in New South Wales and from North Star to Gowrie in Queensland. This includes the project’s largest greenfield sections and the missing link between the two states.

Martinus will now work closely with ARTC to develop supply and logistics strategies for the long-lead time construction materials, including 948 000 concrete sleepers, 80 400 tonnes of rail and 1·7 million tonnes of ballast. Major construction will start once statutory approvals have been received from the state and national governments. The Rail Corridor Programme contract is expected to create around 600 jobs at the peak of the work.

‘We’ve already committed more than 600 contracts to businesses in Queensland and nearly 700 in New South Wales worth more than A$1·9bn across the two states, and this agreement will create even more economic stimulus as the country recovers from the impacts of the pandemic’, said ARTC Inland Rail Interim Chief Executive Rebecca Pickering. ’Both sides of the border will benefit significantly from Inland Rail with more than 11 800 direct and indirect jobs in Queensland and 7 500 in New South Wales expected at the peak of construction in 2023-24.’

Martinus Chief Executive and founder Treaven Martinus said ‘as an Australian-owned business, we understand the importance of supporting local and are committed to playing a key role in helping build and support regional businesses.’