Waratah to Sandgate (W2S) - Newcastle, NSW

The ARTC operated Waratah to Sandgate network section is in the Lower Hunter network area, from approximately 165.300km to 170.500km on the Up and Down Main and Up and Down Coal Lines. The signalling infrastructure is over 40 years old and comprises life-expired equipment in various states of condition. The section was last re-signalled during the late 1960s. Minor alterations have been completed over the years, with new cables and trackside equipment installed. However, most of the existing signalling infrastructure was still in its original state. The new Resignalling project has been undertaken to replace the life-expired infrastructure to increase reliability and operations.

The W2S Work included completion of all remaining signalling civil construction, manufacture, installation, testing, and commissioning associated with the previous re-signalling from Waratah (164.900km) to Sandgate (175.500km), including but not limited to signals, track circuits, point machines, signalling locations, cables, power, and communication infrastructure, including the interfaces at Scholey Street, Islington and Sandgate following the verified signalling design documentation.

The works also included the removal of existing GIJ's and installing closure rails post final commissioning of the signalling system from Waratah to Sandgate and completing the works in their entirety, including recertification of any defects found.

JMDR were engaged in late 2020 by ARTC to provide general project management and the provision of all labour, plant, equipment, materials and consumables and all things necessary to complete the works successfully.

Particular scope to undertake was the completion of all remaining civil construction works, including but not limited to trenching, installation of the cable route, conduits, pits, under line crossings (ULX's), under road crossings (URX), underbores, GST, location slabs, stairs, retaining walls, signal bases to complete the cable route in its entirety.  Installation, testing, commissioning, and certification of all components was then undertaken to ensure the correct operation of the signalling systems following ARTC Standards and Guidelines.

In addition to the new infrastructure, JMDR also removed existing glued insulated joints (GIJ's) and installed closure rails associated with the re-signalling works.  We also protected all existing infrastructure, including cess drains, and prevented fouling from debris and spillages resulting from work activities.  Always seeking to improve methodologies and reduce safety risk, JMDR successfully developed new signal lifting equipment along with their key plant supplier, which will be used across other JDMR sites and shared with the industry as a means of removing slinging loads and having staff near lifting operations - replaced with an excavator-mounted hydraulic clamp system.  

The works commenced on site on the 1st of February 2021, with the final commissioning commencing 9 months later on the 29th of October 2021.