Moreton Bay Rail overhead power ‘goes live’

The Moreton Bay Rail project is one step closer to completion with the new rail line’s 12.6 kilometres of overhead wiring systems switched on today.

Deputy Prime Minister and Federal Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Warren Truss said energising the rail line was a significant milestone for the $988 million project which is jointly funded by the Australian Government ($583 million), Queensland Government ($300 million) and Moreton Bay Regional Council ($105 million).

“Turning on the power today is an enormous achievement for the project, and means the Moreton Bay community is one step closer to receiving train services for the very first time from mid this year,” Mr Truss said.

“This is an exciting time for the project and means the new rail line, which has been eagerly awaited for the past 100 years, will soon become a reality.”

Acting Premier and Minister for Infrastructure Jackie Trad said the Moreton Bay Rail Line was one of South East Queensland’s largest infrastructure projects.

“The new Moreton Bay Rail Line is the region’s biggest infrastructure project in more than a generation and has supported 800 jobs during construction,” Ms Trad said.

“The electrification of the rail line is a critical milestone and brings the key public transport project a step closer to completion.”

Minister for Transport Stirling Hinchliffe said with the rail line now ‘live’, the project would enter an extensive testing phase.

“Queensland Rail and the project team will be monitoring the track infrastructure and signalling equipment and undertaking speed testing to ensure trains are operating safely and efficiently along the new line,” Mr Hinchliffe said.

“Over the past two and a half years, more than three million hours of work has gone into this project to reach this milestone. This involved the installation of more than 44,000 sleepers, 60 kilometres of track, 100,000 tonnes of ballast and 170km of signalling cable, in addition to the 632 masts and 12.6 kilometres of overhead wiring switched on today.

“Once opened, the rail line will revolutionise public transport in the Moreton Bay Region, delivering more than 650 train services between Kippa-Ring and Brisbane each week.”

Moreton Bay Regional Council Mayor Allan Sutherland said while the electrification of the line was another exciting step in the region-building project, he urged local residents to take precautions around the new Moreton Bay Rail corridor.

“These overhead wires carry 25,000 volts of electricity – more than 100 times domestic supply,” Mayor Sutherland said.

“As a former electrician, I know first-hand how important it is for residents to be safe cross at designated overpasses and underpasses, when the new train stations open later this year.”

The Moreton Bay Rail project is delivering 14 kilometres of new dual track passenger rail line between Lawnton and Kippa-Ring, linking with the main North Coast line and South East Queensland’s integrated public transport network.

Source: News Release, Queensland Government, 13 January, 2016

http://statements.qld.gov.au/Statement/2016/1/13/moreton-bay-rail-overhead-power-goes-live