Deterioration and a series of emergency repairs in recent years have raised questions about its reliability over the last few years, with the issue further exacerbated when, during the peak of harvest in December 2020, a derailment occurred at the Beggs Rd level crossing, north of St James.
A primary concern for stakeholders is the imposed speed restrictions in various segments. Farmers, grain companies, and other industry players are worried about the impact of these restrictions on the timely movement of grains, especially during the peak harvest season when time is of the essence.
Currently, trains travelling from Benalla to Yarrawonga are subjected to a 30 km/h speed limit, a significant reduction from standard operating speeds.
From Yarrawonga to Oaklands, the limit is even more restrictive at 20 km/h, further affecting the efficiency and timeliness of transportation.
For the final 9 kilometres into Oaklands, the speed limit plummets to just 10 km/h, causing significant delays to local grain industry stakeholders.
Such limitations have consequences not only for timeliness but also for the region’s economic vitality and competitiveness.
In response to these concerns, the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) has undertaken several initiatives to address the challenges faced by the Oaklands line. These include comprehensive track inspections and repairs, speed restrictions in critical sections, and ongoing consultations with grain industry leaders to co-ordinate transportation logistics.
Furthermore, there are planned upgrades to the track scheduled for November, aiming to enhance the overall reliability of the Oaklands line.
While these upgrades are anticipated to bring improvements, some delays are expected during the implementation.
“ARTC is pleased to be able to continue supporting local farmers in Southern NSW and North East Victoria to deliver their goods to market,” an ARTC spokesperson stated.
“We’ll monitor track and weather conditions through-out the summer months, as we do across the network to ensure we maintain safe operations.
“We have a maintenance and renewal program underway which is replacing a large portion of the timber sleepers with concrete sleepers improving the reliability and resilience of this route.”
The Oaklands Line, designated as a freight line and low-traffic route, reopened in 2020, maintaining a maximum speed of 30 km/hour. Recent maintenance work includes the replacement of timber sleepers with concrete sleepers to bolster track reliability and strength.
Additionally, significant mud removal, level crossing renewal, and resurfacing work have been completed after heavy rainfall at the end of 2022 impacted the line’s condition.
Extreme weather conditions, particularly high temperatures, pose challenges to rail stability, increasing the risk of ‘heat buckles.’
The ARTC has contingency plans in place, including enabling train movements outside the hottest periods of the day during summer months, should temperatures climb above 35°C.
Despite these challenges, the ARTC said the Oaklands line has successfully handled high-volume harvest seasons in recent years, with the 2021/22 period witnessing almost 400 trains running on the line.
As the region braces for another potentially big harvest, the ARTC remains committed to ensuring the reliability and resilience of the Oaklands railway line.
