Construction is underway on a rail passing loop at Maryvale, which will deliver time savings of up to an hour and reduce congestion along the Main West Rail Line for freight and passenger services between Orange and Dubbo in regional New South Wales (NSW).

The $12.98 million project, which includes construction of a new loop, extension of minor bridges and an upgrade of the remotely operated motorised points and signalling, will allow modern and longer freight trains to pass each other and create additional capacity on the busy western line, as well as provide more flexibility with timetables.

The freight task in regional NSW will grow by 12 per cent to 286 million tonnes by 2036, hence the Polona Rail Loop extension is critical. John Holland Country Rail Network has been contracted to deliver the project on behalf of Transport for NSW.

BG&E is the Lead Consultant and provided the functional specification report, concept, preliminary, detailed and construction design, for the Polona Rail Loop extension which upon completion will allow for crossing of 1,800-metre long trains. The loop extension features include new turn-outs and additional track. Our team also provided civil engineering services, including rail and track formation, earthworks, drainage, and worked closely with sub-consultants to deliver the associated with environmental, geotechnical and survey elements of the project.

In delivering the Polona Rail Loop extension, BG&E collaborated with our client and various stakeholders.