CountryLink is advising customers there will be changes to services for a number of months due to major trackwork between Sydney and Moree and Sydney and Armidale.

RailCorp’s Acting Chief Operating Officer Tony Eid said the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) is undertaking extensive track upgrades between Tuesday 16 July and Wednesday 19 September 2012.

“This is a large-scale track upgrade which will see ARTC replace around 90,000 timber sleepers with concrete sleepers from Murulla to Dartbrook.

“While there will be some inconvenience to customers while the trackwork takes place, the project is necessary in the long run to ensure safe and more reliable CountryLink services,” Mr Eid said.

“Replacing the sleepers will also reduce ongoing maintenance requirements, which means less need to interrupt services in the future.

“To ensure continued services for customers during the trackwork, we will operate a combined train and coach service at an amended timetable between Sydney and Moree and Sydney and Armidale.

The changes will also affect connecting coaches to Tenterfield, Inverell and Burren Junction.  Customers travelling through these areas will need to change from a train to a coach service at Muswellbrook to continue to their destination.

Tony Eid said customers will find their services depart from Sydney, Moree and Armidale up to two hours earlier.

“There will also be amended stopping patterns and coaches will stop at most railway stations. There will be some exceptions, so we ask customers to listen to on-board announcements and follow the directions from CountryLink staff,” said Mr Eid.

“We advise all customers to book seats on our services in advance.

“We are trying to minimise the impact of the trackwork to our customers and thank them for their continued support and understanding throughout this period,” said Mr Eid.