A WA parliamentary question investigates the use of wooden railway sleepers on the Avon to Albany rail line, covering quantity, compliance, cost, and safety. The response provides specific figures and assurances regarding standards and inspections.

AnsweredQoN 4251Legislative Council
Asked
21 June 2011
Portfolio
Transport

QuestionView source ↗

Regarding the use of wooden railway sleepers for the re-sleepering of part of the Avon to Albany rail line, I ask -
(1) How many railway sleepers were commissioned for that rail line?
(2) Is the use of wooden sleepers a part of the tender document?
(3) Who decided to use wooden sleepers for that rail line?
(4) How many sleepers were milled in Western Australia and at what mills?
(5) How many have been delivered already?
(6) How many have been installed already and where?
(7) Do these sleepers comply with the relevant Australian Standards (including AS 3818.2)?
(8) If yes to (7), how do you know that they comply?
(9) How is the Minister ensuring that the sleepers installed on the rail line do not negatively affect the security of people and freight?
(10) How much has the State Government paid towards the cost of installing these sleepers and how much more is it committed to pay?

AnswerView source ↗

Answered
16 August 2011
Responded by
Minister for Finance representing the Minister for Transport
Response time
56 days
The
Public Transport Authority
advises:
(1) 184 353
(2) Timber sleepers may be used.
(3) WestNet Rail.
(4) All timber sleepers were milled in Western Australia. Redmond Sawmill; Chowerup Sawmill; Whiteland Milling; and Australian Craftwood & Timber.
(5) To 30 June 2011, 72 870 sleepers.
(6) To 30 June 2011, 67 418 on the Avon to Albany rail line.
(7) Yes
(8) They are certified.
(9) The Public Transport Authority conducts site inspections of completed works including inspecting the quality of the sleepers to ensure all works and sleepers meet all required standards.
(10) The project is jointly funded by both the State and Federal Governments.
$24 183 706 (ex GST) was spent on the Avon to Albany resleepering project in 2010/11 with $11 057 294 remaining.
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