Project Summary
Client: SET Logistics / ARTC / John Holland
Location: Geelong Highway, Inverleigh
Project Overview
PROJECT OVERVIEW: On the morning of the 14th of November, a freight train which was heading from Melbourne to Perth via Adelaide, derailed in Inverleigh, when the tracks gave way. This occurred the morning after heavy rain across Victoria on one of the main interstate rail freight routes. With the busiest time of the year for movement of goods already underway, a timely response was crucial to reopen one of the busiest rail freight routes. The train was 1.7km long and 18 carriages were smashed into pieces. Premier was engaged to lift and move some of the carriages at the front of the train, in order to replace the bogies underneath them that were damaged during the derailment.
CHALLENGE: As the structural integrity of the concrete culvert was compromised by rain, the culvert smashed into pieces causing the rail track to give way and the middle section of the train to derail.
Premier attended the site to assess whether cranes could lead the recovery for the derailed carriages. Additionally, enhanced risk mitigation measures were required to ensure safe operations within the rail corridor.
SOLUTION: Due to the extreme weather conditions in the area, it was deemed impossible to use cranes for the recovery, as the ground condition was inadequate to support cranes.
Instead, it was decided that using large excavators to clear the rail corridor and allow for the new rail track to be laid, was the best solution.
Premier was engaged to lift each of the 80t carriages and hold them at height whilst the bogies were being replaced.
We successfully lifted each of the carriages using our 250t Liebherr all-terrain mobile crane and a MAC25 Franna to lift the 4t bogies.
Our HSEQ Manager helped identify and implement all necessary safety measures, including developing custom SWMS for the high-risk work.
Fast responsiveness, smart logistics and understanding of the intricacies of each action that needed to happen were key areas to deliver successful results.
*Premier Cranes is set up to take on rail recovery works!
