1986 – March – Brock – Illawarra Resignalling for Electrification Construction

A.J. Brock Tech. Engineer, IRSE, GEC Projects Division Railway Signals The installation for the Illawarra project involved the resignalling of 47 km. of track from just south of Helensburgh to Port Kembla, south of Wollongong , as shown on Diagram 1. Generally the line consists of two tracks with bi-directional working on both roads. Major interlockings are situated at points along the line as described later in this paper. The main Control Centre is at Wollongong, just south of Wollongong station. The entire project had to be completed and available for electric trains to run by the end of December 1985, from a commencement date of 1st March 1984. This goal was achieved, but unfortunately the start of electric services was delayed by problems with the Stanwell Park viaduct. Electric trains commenced the service to Wollongong on Tuesday 4th February 1986, after the official opening by the Premier of New South Wales, the Honourable Mr. Neville Wran.