Hon Louise Kingston asks about the material composition and rationale behind sleeper choices for the Midland railway line upgrades. The Minister responds, detailing the split between steel and concrete sleepers and citing cost-effectiveness as the reason for not using 100% concrete sleepers.

AnsweredQoN 1378Legislative Council
Asked
6 November 2024
Portfolio
Transport

QuestionView source ↗

METRONET — MIDLAND RAIL LINE
1378. Hon LOUISE KINGSTON to the minister representing the
Minister for Transport:
I refer to the
recent announcement by the WA government and rail operator Arc Infrastructure
regarding upgrades to the Midland railway line.
(1) What percentage
of the replacement sleepers will be steel?
(2) Is Arc
Infrastructure the only supplier of steel sleepers?
(3) Why is Arc not
using all concrete sleepers, which would provide a longer lasting, secure rail
line?

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the
honourable member for some notice of the question.
(1) Of the
sleepers, 50 per cent will be steel and 50 per cent will be concrete.
(2) Arc does not
manufacture sleepers; it procures them from approved manufacturers.
(3)
Concrete sleepers are more expensive. Using 100 per cent concrete sleepers
would not be cost effective.

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