Bad tracks cost ARTC

Water damage on the Melbourne – Sydney railway line has been a large contributing factor in the Australian Rail Track Corporation posting a $290 million write-down this year.

Despite recording a 24 per cent access revenue boost in its 2012 annual report, the ARTC posted the large impairment loss on the 8500km network.

Loco Division Secretary Bob Hayden said the large cost of the damage will come as no surprise to drivers who have been complaining about the sub-standard work done on the line for quite some time.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau is currently investigating the safety of the line following the RTBU’s calls for an investigation into the second-rate resleepering program and dangerous mudholes on the line.

“The corporation is saying that an impairment loss of this size is standard practice, but we believe that the company wouldn’t be in this position if it had bothered to have the tracks put in properly in the first place,” Bob Hayden said.

“Drivers and passengers have been suffering as a result of the sub-standard work done on the tracks. It’s ridiculous.

The ARTC is spending $134 million over five years to replace the water-damaged track. It says speed restrictions will be slowly removed as the job is completed, which is expected by mid-next year.