P Way problems in Australia

[Wyvern]

Safety fears halt interstate train passenger service

PASSENGER train services between Melbourne and Sydney have been suspended over concerns that defects in the tracks caused by a $1 billion upgrade have left them unsafe.

 

[Aussie_Rail]

Safety fears halt interstate train passenger service

PASSENGER train services between Melbourne and Sydney have been suspended over concerns that defects in the tracks caused by a $1 billion upgrade have left them unsafe.

This is how stupid the ARTC are, they are quoted as saying, that the mud holes were caused as a result of the installing of concrete sleepers and that the dust from the sleepers mixed with the torrential rain we had recently and therefore caused this 'mud'. Of course no one believes that and its almost insulting that they even thought up a load of crap like that.

It will be interesting to see how they fix it as there are mud holes in several locations, one that comes to mind is at Hurstbridge where nearly the entire length of the platform there is mud hole along the track.

 

[Old Timer]

From the picture it looks like these "mud holes" are actually wetspots.

I wonder if ARTC simply did a straight concrete for wood replacement ?

If they did they I am not surprised that there are wetspots, which indicate the sub-grade was in poor condition beforehand. I have relaid concrete for wood outside the UK and it has always been necessary to establish the sub-grade condition first. The renewal system used on ARTC also means that the track is lifted through the full ballast depth with the resultant issues of the formation being inadequately compacted, which again introduces the transmission of vertical track forces into the sub-grade and causes the sub-grade to pump.

 

[Addington]

Victoria had suffered a dry spell for a while, and ARTC did a straight wood for concrete swap. Then it rained and the mud holes appeared.

Countrylink XPT services resumed on Mon September 13, although delays are sometimes extensive, a daylight Sydney bound service ex Melbourne last week was 2 hours late.