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Brookfield working on “extensive” flooding damage to East-West railway

Brookfield rail. Photo: Creative Commons / Gnangarra

Heavy flooding in Western Australia has left four key railways out of action this week, including the key connection between the nation’s east and west coasts.

WA operator Brookfield said its teams were working towards restoring the rail lines to action this week, with “extensive damage” observed including damage to embankments, track structures and access roads.

Brookfield has been forced to close traffic on:

  1. Eastern Goldfields Railway, operating from Perth to Kalgoorlie and on to the eastern states;
  2. Great Southern Railway, operating from Northam to Albany;
  3. Grain freight rail network, operating in the northern Wheatbelt and the Lakes District; and
  4. Leonora line, operating from Kalgoorlie to Leonora.

“Where conditions have allowed site preparation activities and recovery and restoration works have commenced and operations have resumed on some lines,” Brookfield said.

“In some areas the extent of the damage to rail infrastructure is still unclear because of continued rainfall and the volume of water and as a result some sections of the freight rail network will remain closed until further notice.

“Brookfield Rail is working closely with customers who utilise the rail network to ensure they are kept informed of progress.”

In WA Brookfield works as both a rail operator and the track owner, thanks to a long-term lease from the WA Government.

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