liverpool range new route selection study · 2018. 10. 11. · liverpool range new route selection...
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Liverpool Range New Route Selection StudyARTC is undertaking a study to determine a potential new route acrossthe Liverpool Range in the vicinity of Ardglen. This information sheet setsout the background and purpose of the study.
What is ARTC?The Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) controls the interstate railnetwork between the Queensland border near Brisbane and Kalgoorlie inWestern Australia, plus the NSW Hunter Valley rail network.
ARTC commenced a 60-year lease of the NSW part of the network inSeptember 2004. It also manages the balance of the NSW countryregional network on behalf of the NSW Government, but does notcontrol any of the network used for electrified services for commuters.
ARTC is a Corporations Law entity whose shares are owned by theAustralian Government. It operates on a commercial basis and does notreceive any recurrent funding from Government.
Why is a study being done?The grades of the current railway over the Liverpool Range at Ardglenrepresent a barrier to efficient rail operations.
Schemes to relieve these grades have been proposed for at least 80years.
Current forecasts of growth in coal volumes transported by rail overthe Liverpool Range (see next page) suggest that the time may now beapproaching when a new alignment would be justified.
ARTC is undertaking the current study to ensure it is well prepared torespond to the actual growth in rail traffic.
What will the study cover?The principal purpose of the study is to determine with confidence theconditions under which a new alignment would be justified.
A key input to this assessment will be the estimated cost of the newroute.
To sensibly cost the new route, it is necessary to have a firm view of analignment. A key task for the study is therefore to identify a preferredalignment. This has the added benefit of making ARTC well placed toproceed quickly with the project when the conditions are right.
The study will only identify a preferred alignment. A final alignmentwould only be determined as part of the process of gaining environ-mental approvals. This is not part of the current study, and ARTC wouldonly seek such approvals when the need for the project was imminent.
What are the route options?ARTC does not have any preconceived views about the best alignment.That will be determined by the study.
However, the grade that the new alignment will avoid extends fromjust north of Murrurundi to Chilcotts Creek, 4 km south of Willow Tree. Itis highly unlikely that a new alignment would extend far past the extent ofthe grade at either end.
LIVERPOOL RANGE NEW ROUTE SELECTION STUDY
An empty northbound coal train emerging from the Ardglen tunnel at the top of the existing route over the Liverpool Range.
Accordingly, the principle focus of the study is the area shown in themap on the next page.
This map also shows, in broad terms, three alternative routes thathave been proposed in the past.
The new alignment may or may not include a new tunnel, and theexisting track may or may not be retained.
When would the line be built?
ARTC would build the new alignment when the project satisfied reason-able commercial criteria.
In simple terms, new alignment would be built when the value offuture savings in train operating costs exceeded the project’s capital cost.
At this stage ARTC does not know whether or when this condition islikely to be met.
Will the line open up theGunnedah Basin coal deposits?
ARTC will need to use the train operating cost savings from the newalignment as the basis for funding the capital cost of the project.
Accordingly, in the short to medium term the coal producers will notgain any significant net saving in the cost, to them, of moving coal to theport.
This means the growth in coal exports from the Gunnedah Basin willneed to occur independent of whether the new alignment proceeds.
In the longer term, a new alignment will offer some savings as theinitial cost of the project is paid off, especially if coal volumes exceed theforecasts made at the time the project is approved.
Whether the new alignment proceeds or not, ARTC will ensure thatsufficient rail capacity is available on its network for the movement, on
LIVERPOOL RANGE NEW ROUTE SELECTION STUDY
Toronto
Cessnock
Maitland
Ulan loop
Dunedoo
Gulgong
Kandos
Mudgee
Newcastle
Po
Taree
Wingham
Wauchope
Kempsey
Ma
Walcha
Manilla
Uralla
Branxton
Singleton
Dungog
Gloucester
Anvil Hill loop
Muswellbrook
Scone
Aberdeen
Tamworth
BarrabaDorrigo
Armidale
Narrabri
Gunnedah
Boggabri
Murrurundi
Quirindi
Merriwa
rygoen
ay
Werris CreekThe Gap
Dumaresq
Martins CreekPaterson
Hilldale
Stroud Road
CravenStratford
Mt George
Lansdowne Johns River
Kendall
Telegraph Point
Eungai
Forster
Bellingen
Nelson Bay
Wards River
Greta
Willow Tree
Curlewis
Breeza
Ardglen
Walcha Road
Parkville
Wingen
Antiene
Denman
Whittingham
Sandgate
KerrabeeBylong
Coggan Creek
Moolarben loop
Thornton
Saxonvale loop
Newdell
MindaribbaBelford
Wallarobba
Kundabung
Kerewong
Bulliac
Kootingal
Kooragang IslandPort Waratah
Coolah
Lochinvar
Wilpinjongloop
Bengallaloop
Dartbrook loop
Mt Owen loopDrayton
Mt Thorley loop
Rixs Creek loop
Caroona
Gunnedah loop
Baan Baa
Narrabri loop
Duralie loader
Stratford loop
Wambo loop
Togar
MurullaBlandford
Quipolly
Braefield
Premer
Weetaliba
Nea
Emerald Hill
Narrabri Junction
Lue
Boggabri loop
Pelton
TeralbaNewstan
Bloomfield
• Whitehaven• East Boggabri• Belmont
• Whitehaven• East Boggabri• Belmont
• Boggabri• Maules Creek• Boggabri• Maules Creek
• Bickham• Bickham
• Dartbrook• Dartbrook• Ulan• Ulan
• Moolarben• Moolarben • Bengalla• Mt Pleasant• Bengalla• Mt Pleasant
• Anvil Hill• Anvil Hill
• Wilpinjong• Wilpinjong
• Duralie• Duralie
• Duralie• Duralie
• Narrabri• Narrabri
• Caroona• Caroona • Werris Creek• Werris Creek
• For mine details,see Newcastle–Muswellbrook map
• For mine details,see Newcastle–Muswellbrook map
0
20
40
60
80
100
2006
120
140
160
Million tonnes of coal per annum
2007
2008
2009
2010
2015
2011
Bloomfield loop–Newcastle ports
0
20
40
60
80
100
2006
120
140
160
Million tonnes of coal per annum
2007
2008
2009
2010
2015
2011
Whittingham Junction–Maitland
0
20
40
60
80
100
2006
120
Million tonnes of coal per annum
2007
2008
2009
2010
2015
2011
Newdell Junction–Mt Owen Junction
0
20
40
60
80
100
2006
Million tonnes of coal per annum
2007
2008
2009
2010
2015
2011
Muswellbrook–Antiene Junction
0
20
40
2006
Million tonnes of coal per annum
2007
2008
2009
2010
2015
2011
Werris Creek–Murulla
0
20
40
2006
Million tonnes of coal per annum
2007
2008
2009
2010
2015
2011
Boggabri loop–Gunnedah loop
0
20
40
2006
Million tonnes of coal per annum
2007
2008
2009
2010
2015
2011
Wilpinjong loop–Anvil Hill loop
0
20
40
2006
Million tonnes of coal per annum
2007
2008
2009
2010
2015
2011
Bengalla loop–Muswellbrook
60
Forecast increases in rail coal traffic to the Newcastle export ports and Hunter Valley and Central Coast power stations, based on coal industry producers’ forecasts.
A southbound grain train (left) waiting for an empty coal train (right) to pass it at
Ardglen, near the top of a steep climb for loaded trains from Chilcotts Creek.
commercial terms, of all Gunnedah Basin coal that producers wish toexport.
When will the study’s findings be released?The study is expected to be completed at the end of June 2006.
The results will be made public once the ARTC Board has had theopportunity to review and consider the findings.
Further information:
Any questions in relation to the study should be directed to James Moor,Strategic Planner, ARTC on (02) 8259 0757 or e-mail [email protected].
LIVERPOOL RANGE NEW ROUTE SELECTION STUDY
Murrurundi
Ardglen
Kankool
Doughboy
Pages River
Willow Tree
Blandford
Chilcotts Creek
Tunnel
1917 concept
1928 concept
Tunnel
Tunnel
Tunnel
Existingalignment
Existingalignment
Existingalignment
Existingalignment
Existingalignment
Existingalignment
Study area
Alternative concept (date unknown)
1917 and 1928 concepts
Alternative concept (date unknown)
The study area, showing the existing route and three alternative routes identified in earlier studies, two of them with long tunnels.
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Study area
Murrurundi station, looking west to the Liverpool Range.