Liverpool Range New Route Selection StudyARTC is undertaking a study to determine a potential new route acrossthe Liverpool Range in the vicinity of Ardglen. This information sheet setsout the background and purpose of the study.

What is ARTC?The Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) controls the interstate railnetwork between the Queensland border near Brisbane and Kalgoorlie inWestern Australia, plus the NSW Hunter Valley rail network.

ARTC commenced a 60-year lease of the NSW part of the network inSeptember 2004. It also manages the balance of the NSW countryregional network on behalf of the NSW Government, but does notcontrol any of the network used for electrified services for commuters.

ARTC is a Corporations Law entity whose shares are owned by theAustralian Government. It operates on a commercial basis and does notreceive any recurrent funding from Government.

Why is a study being done?The grades of the current railway over the Liverpool Range at Ardglenrepresent a barrier to efficient rail operations.

Schemes to relieve these grades have been proposed for at least 80years.

Current forecasts of growth in coal volumes transported by rail overthe Liverpool Range (see next page) suggest that the time may now beapproaching when a new alignment would be justified.

ARTC is undertaking the current study to ensure it is well prepared torespond to the actual growth in rail traffic.

What will the study cover?The principal purpose of the study is to determine with confidence theconditions under which a new alignment would be justified.

A key input to this assessment will be the estimated cost of the newroute.

To sensibly cost the new route, it is necessary to have a firm view of analignment. A key task for the study is therefore to identify a preferredalignment. This has the added benefit of making ARTC well placed toproceed quickly with the project when the conditions are right.

The study will only identify a preferred alignment. A final alignmentwould only be determined as part of the process of gaining environ-mental approvals. This is not part of the current study, and ARTC wouldonly seek such approvals when the need for the project was imminent.

What are the route options?ARTC does not have any preconceived views about the best alignment.That will be determined by the study.

However, the grade that the new alignment will avoid extends fromjust north of Murrurundi to Chilcotts Creek, 4 km south of Willow Tree. Itis highly unlikely that a new alignment would extend far past the extent ofthe grade at either end.

LIVERPOOL RANGE NEW ROUTE SELECTION STUDY

An empty northbound coal train emerging from the Ardglen tunnel at the top of the existing route over the Liverpool Range.

Accordingly, the principle focus of the study is the area shown in themap on the next page.

This map also shows, in broad terms, three alternative routes thathave been proposed in the past.

The new alignment may or may not include a new tunnel, and theexisting track may or may not be retained.

When would the line be built?

ARTC would build the new alignment when the project satisfied reason-able commercial criteria.

In simple terms, new alignment would be built when the value offuture savings in train operating costs exceeded the project’s capital cost.

At this stage ARTC does not know whether or when this condition islikely to be met.

Will the line open up theGunnedah Basin coal deposits?

ARTC will need to use the train operating cost savings from the newalignment as the basis for funding the capital cost of the project.

Accordingly, in the short to medium term the coal producers will notgain any significant net saving in the cost, to them, of moving coal to theport.

This means the growth in coal exports from the Gunnedah Basin willneed to occur independent of whether the new alignment proceeds.

In the longer term, a new alignment will offer some savings as theinitial cost of the project is paid off, especially if coal volumes exceed theforecasts made at the time the project is approved.

Whether the new alignment proceeds or not, ARTC will ensure thatsufficient rail capacity is available on its network for the movement, on

LIVERPOOL RANGE NEW ROUTE SELECTION STUDY

Toronto

Cessnock

Maitland

Ulan loop

Dunedoo

Gulgong

Kandos

Mudgee

Newcastle

Po

Taree

Wingham

Wauchope

Kempsey

Ma

Walcha

Manilla

Uralla

Branxton

Singleton

Dungog

Gloucester

Anvil Hill loop

Muswellbrook

Scone

Aberdeen

Tamworth

BarrabaDorrigo

Armidale

Narrabri

Gunnedah

Boggabri

Murrurundi

Quirindi

Merriwa

rygoen

ay

Werris CreekThe Gap

Dumaresq

Martins CreekPaterson

Hilldale

Stroud Road

CravenStratford

Mt George

Lansdowne Johns River

Kendall

Telegraph Point

Eungai

Forster

Bellingen

Nelson Bay

Wards River

Greta

Willow Tree

Curlewis

Breeza

Ardglen

Walcha Road

Parkville

Wingen

Antiene

Denman

Whittingham

Sandgate

KerrabeeBylong

Coggan Creek

Moolarben loop

Thornton

Saxonvale loop

Newdell

MindaribbaBelford

Wallarobba

Kundabung

Kerewong

Bulliac

Kootingal

Kooragang IslandPort Waratah

Coolah

Lochinvar

Wilpinjongloop

Bengallaloop

Dartbrook loop

Mt Owen loopDrayton

Mt Thorley loop

Rixs Creek loop

Caroona

Gunnedah loop

Baan Baa

Narrabri loop

Duralie loader

Stratford loop

Wambo loop

Togar

MurullaBlandford

Quipolly

Braefield

Premer

Weetaliba

Nea

Emerald Hill

Narrabri Junction

Lue

Boggabri loop

Pelton

TeralbaNewstan

Bloomfield

• Whitehaven• East Boggabri• Belmont

• Whitehaven• East Boggabri• Belmont

• Boggabri• Maules Creek• Boggabri• Maules Creek

• Bickham• Bickham

• Dartbrook• Dartbrook• Ulan• Ulan

• Moolarben• Moolarben • Bengalla• Mt Pleasant• Bengalla• Mt Pleasant

• Anvil Hill• Anvil Hill

• Wilpinjong• Wilpinjong

• Duralie• Duralie

• Duralie• Duralie

• Narrabri• Narrabri

• Caroona• Caroona • Werris Creek• Werris Creek

• For mine details,see Newcastle–Muswellbrook map

• For mine details,see Newcastle–Muswellbrook map

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Bloomfield loop–Newcastle ports

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Whittingham Junction–Maitland

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Newdell Junction–Mt Owen Junction

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Muswellbrook–Antiene Junction

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Werris Creek–Murulla

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Boggabri loop–Gunnedah loop

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Wilpinjong loop–Anvil Hill loop

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Bengalla loop–Muswellbrook

60

Forecast increases in rail coal traffic to the Newcastle export ports and Hunter Valley and Central Coast power stations, based on coal industry producers’ forecasts.

A southbound grain train (left) waiting for an empty coal train (right) to pass it at

Ardglen, near the top of a steep climb for loaded trains from Chilcotts Creek.

commercial terms, of all Gunnedah Basin coal that producers wish toexport.

When will the study’s findings be released?The study is expected to be completed at the end of June 2006.

The results will be made public once the ARTC Board has had theopportunity to review and consider the findings.

Further information:

Any questions in relation to the study should be directed to James Moor,Strategic Planner, ARTC on (02) 8259 0757 or e-mail jmoor@artc.com.au.

LIVERPOOL RANGE NEW ROUTE SELECTION STUDY

Murrurundi

Ardglen

Kankool

Doughboy

Pages River

Willow Tree

Blandford

Chilcotts Creek

Tunnel

1917 concept

1928 concept

Tunnel

Tunnel

Tunnel

Existingalignment

Existingalignment

Existingalignment

Existingalignment

Existingalignment

Existingalignment

Study area

Alternative concept (date unknown)

1917 and 1928 concepts

Alternative concept (date unknown)

The study area, showing the existing route and three alternative routes identified in earlier studies, two of them with long tunnels.

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Study area

Murrurundi station, looking west to the Liverpool Range.