New cleaned ballast on the South Coast line. Photos: Transport for NSW.
Following an eight-day closure for critical upgrades, the South Coast rail line has reopened — but passengers should expect limited delays over the next two days as it carries out routine maintenance work.
The rail line between Thirroul and Southerland was closed for eight days and saw buses replace trains, as Sydney Trains carried out planned critical upgrades and essential maintenance work.
A Transport for NSW spokesperson said Sydney Trains undertakes an extensive maintenance program across the rail network to ensure passenger journeys continue to run smoothly and safely.
“Trackwork is planned a year in advance. The work carried out on the South Coast Line over the past eight days is part of a critical resilience upgrade that is particularly important due to the South Coast Line’s challenging topography,” the spokesperson said.
“Sydney Trains tries to minimise the disruption to passengers by scheduling much of this trackwork during weeknights, weekends and school holidays.
“Sydney Trains apologises for the inconvenience and is doing its best to ensure a more reliable and resilient network into the future.”
The spokesperson thanked passengers for their patience and understanding.
Works carried out included cutting and embankment works at Waterfall and Scarborough and routine maintenance.
In addition, 3.6 km or 12,000 tonnes of ballast were cleaned on the Illawarra Line between Waterfall and Coalcliff.
This type of work typically requires four to five weekends to complete, but with careful planning the work has been completed within the eight-day window. The crew also installed 250 metres of new drainage.
A significant volume of spoil was removed by the ballast-cleaning machine, reaching several storeys high. This material will be removed by truck once the work ends.
Sydney Trains is now carrying out routine maintenance work on the South Coast Line this Saturday and Sunday (19 and 20 July).
From 3 am to 11 am on Saturday, buses will replace trains between Dapto, Port Kembla and Sutherland. On Sunday from 2:30 am to 9:50 am, buses will replace trains between Bomaderry and Wollongong.
Crews will be carrying out track, signal and electrical maintenance; station maintenance works to improve safety at stations; track defect removal to improve network reliability; ballast cleaning; track resurfacing, tamping and rail grinding activities; and vegetation maintenance, litter and graffiti removal.
Meanwhile, Kiama Council has fully reopened Jamberoo Mountain Road after a five-week repair program addressed the damage caused by a landslip to about 50 metres of the road just above The Abbey.
Works included 24 soil nails to underpin the road, a concrete capping beam, shotcrete, and repairs to two additional slip sites.
Mayor Cameron McDonald said capital works of that scale were always notoriously tricky to deliver, but were completed on time and on budget.
“I want to thank the people who rely on Jamberoo Mountain Road, especially local residents and businesses, for your continuing patience with the disruptions of recent years,” Cr McDonald said.
He said council continued to advocate for Jamberoo Mountain Road to be reclassified from a council-managed road to one managed by the NSW Government to reduce the burden on its finances.
Night works were also completed on Macquarie Pass on 18 July.
