NSW: Menangle Bridge rail services to reopen
SYDNEY, April 24 AAP - Australia's largest private rail freighter, Pacific National,expects to resume services across the controversial Menangle rail bridge from today.
The bridge, south-west of Sydney, was reported as being structurally dangerous on March 6.
However, it remained open until March 27 - five days after the NSW election - sparkingallegations the re-elected state government had delayed its closure and placed lives atrisk.
A Pacific National spokesman said it was yet to receive official confirmation the bridgewould reopen today, but Minister for Transport Michael Costa was expected to make an announcementon the issue.
"We've had confirmation from the Rail Safety Regulator Kent Donaldson," the spokesman said.
"But we haven't received the official announcement, so we still don't know when ourfirst service across the bridge will be."
Pacific National had been losing up to $2 million a week since Rail InfrastructureCorporation (RIC) closed the 140-year-old iron railway bridge, the spokesman said.
"We're definitely pursuing our right to compensation," he said.
Controversy surrounding the closure of the Menangle Bridge has been referred to theIndependent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) following an investigation by the Coordinator-Generalof Rail, Vince Graham.
AAP tma/hn/cjh/br
KEYWORD: RAIL
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