A $1.05 million commitment to upgrade the Dubbo Rail Triangle will cut congestion and increase freight efficiency, according to Dubbo MP and Deputy Premier Troy Grant.
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The investment by the state government, in collaboration with the Australian Rail Track Corporation, will fund new signals, as well as the automation of switches.
Currently, trains have to come to a complete stop while the switches are operated manually, causing lengthy delays to motorists at the Cobbora Road and Wheeler’s Lane level crossings.
The ARTC, which manages the rail junction, has contributed $300,000 towards the upgrade.
Mr Grant said the investment “makes sense” and will make a significant difference in Dubbo.
“It’s going to save people time in cars. [It’s] an opportunity for freight to move more efficiently,” he said.
The Dubbo Triangle is one of the state’s major rail junctions, linking the Central West to the Gunnedah and Hunter basins, and connecting major rail routes from Orange, Coonamble and the eastern seaboard to Parkes and Cobar in the west via Narromine.
Mr Grant said that the $1 million in funding would not be drawn from money raised from the leasing of 49% of the state’s electricity network.
“This is our first order of business, coming out of our budget,” he said.
“This is coming from good government, listening to the people and delivering.”
Dubbo City Council Technical Services Director Stewart McLeod welcomed the commitment, which the council had been “pushing very hard” for.
“This is probably 19th century railway infrastructure colliding with 21st century traffic needs,” he said.
“Sometimes there have been queues all the way back to Wheelers Lane. It’s another great announcement for Dubbo.”
New South Wales Minister for Roads and Freight Duncan Gay said that the delays in traffic were “also a safety issue”, particularly if ambulances and emergency services could not access half of the city.
“It can put lives at risk,” he said.
“The current system is that archaic.”
He said the investment was not just for Dubbo and the Central West, but would benefit the whole of the state.
“It just streamlines the flow of freight though a key gateway to country NSW.”
“It’s not a huge amount of money, but it’s probably the best money we’ve spent.”
