A new ONTRACK owned railway sleeper factory in Christchurch is a sign of a long term commitment to rejuvenating New Zealand’s rail network using kiwi made materials, ONTRACK Chairman Cam Moore said today.
Speaking at an opening ceremony for the factory, Cam Moore said the new factory showed ONTRACK was serious about continuing to make improvements to the rail network long term.
“When we took responsibility for the rail network in 2004 we inherited a backlog of deferred maintenance. Since then we have more than doubled the number of sleepers laid each year from less than 40,000 in 2003 to more than 100,000 in 2007.
“We are committed to clearing that maintenance backlog by 2010 and to continuing to improve the quality of the rail network. That means keeping up the pace of renewals as well as leading rail development projects, such as building a new siding for Pike River Coal on the West Coast.”
In September ONTRACK will start laying track for the 1.8km loop siding at Ikamatua, which will use almost 3,000 concrete sleepers.
“Having another local supplier of concrete sleepers means more reliability and relative price certainty to help us achieve these goals. Building the factory is a sign of our long term commitment to strengthening the New Zealand rail network for the future,” said Cam Moore.
The factory will produce 40,000 concrete sleepers a year. This will provide a dedicated supply of sleepers for South Island railway lines, in addition to the sleepers manufactured at an existing factory in Hamilton.
The 900m² factory has been built for ONTRACK by Hawkins Construction Ltd on railway land on Annex Rd in Middleton. The site, with its adjacent railway siding is ideal for the efficient loading out and storage of sleepers. ONTRACK has signed a five-year contract with New Zealand firm Busck Prestressed Concrete Ltd to produce the sleepers.
ONTRACK’s concrete sleeper laying machine will operate in the South Island from September through till the end of the year, laying more than 30,000 concrete sleepers.