Defects Threaten Sydney Line

[John Ashworth]

DEFECTS THREATEN SYDNEY LINE
Railways Africa
Friday, 05 December 2008

Serious defects have emerged in the new A$2.3 billion Epping to Chatswood railway, the Sydney Morning Herald reports. These “could threaten its long-term reliability and have the potential to increase dramatically the cost of running the line which has not opened to traffic yet. A report commissioned by the state government's rail-building agency, the Transport Infrastructure Development Corporation, raises grave questions about the long-term cost of maintaining the line. The report has exposed numerous faults in the way the tracks have been fixed to 19km of concrete slabs. It details the widespread failure of the epoxy, which was often water-affected or contaminated with slurry, the use of incorrectly tensioned bolts and clips, and cracks in the sleepers. The line was meant to open in 2006, but has been repeatedly delayed.”