Tasmanian rail line out for a month

All sides see the movement of rail freight to roads as retrograde and damaging.
Pacific National Tasmania (PNT) parent Asciano expected Tasmania’s north-south rail freight line to be closed for about a month, a spokeswoman said on Tuesday.
Container and paper-related freight has been suspended after about 60 metres of track was damaged when  two locomotives and five carriages derailed on Friday near Rhyndaston.
“This is a result of the condition of the rail infrastructure in the Colebrook region, after several derailments in recent months,” the spokeswoman said.
“PNT has suspended all rail services in that region.
“The current condition of the track makes this region unsafe to continue to run freight train operations. This action will result in the suspension of all container and paper train operations on the north-south line.
“Coal, cement and concentrate operations do not operate over the affected section and are not impacted.
“At this time, the estimated closure is four weeks and further investigations this week may change that estimate.
“PNT [is] in discussions with customers, employees and other key stakeholders to ensure all are informed of progress. “
The Department of Infrastructure, Energy and Resources was assessing the work required and was in discussions with PNT to bring forward track repairs, its minister, Graeme Sturges, said on Tuesday.
“The company has indicated it will keep its customers and stakeholders informed of the situation, and is working with its customers on alternative transport arrangements.
Mr Sturges said the state and federal governments remained committed to the network and $210.5m had been committed to the rail rescue package and further rail upgrades.
“The State Government is rolling out a program of track upgrades that includes a $30m sleeper replacement contract, rail bridge replacement or upgrading, level crossing upgrades and planning for further north-south main line upgrades,” he said.
“The State Government is rolling out a program of track upgrades that includes a $30m sleeper replacement contract, rail bridge replacement or upgrading, level crossing upgrades and planning for further north-south main line upgrades,” he said.
The Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry said continuing derailments were damaging to tourism and investment but it feared an outcome where the State Government took over running trains if PNT withdrew, as Asciano has said it would.
Greens infrastructure spokesman Tim Morris MP said the line closure was “dreadful news for all Tasmanian road users as the paper freight from Boyer and the zinc freight from Hobart’s Nyrstar zinc-works, as well as other Hobart container freight, must now be transported to Burnie and Bell Bay by road, adding hundreds of heavy truck movements to Tasmanian highways every day”.