With flood waters dropping to workable levels, the Australian Rail Track Corporation said track signalling restoration and repairs progressed well yesterday.

“As a result, ARTC is able to confirm the forecast for the Hunter Valley coal rail network to return to service is early tomorrow afternoon (April 29),” ARTC said yesterday afternoon.

“This allows final track inspections to be undertaken in daylight hours after track repairs and signalling works are completed. ARTC is working closely with our customers and the Hunter coal chain on the operational start-up plan.”

The resumption of full operations of the region’s rail networks could take some time yet.

“ARTC maintenance crews will continue to work through the week to return the track to normal operating conditions,” the rail authority said.

“Residents are advised that this will involve heavy track repair machines working around-the-clock conducting track resurfacing and rail grinding. This is essential to get the network back up and running and we apologise for any inconvenience caused.”

Flash flooding particularly hit the upper Hunter town of Dungog last week – fatally washing away three people in the early hours of Tuesday morning (April 21) with the full circumstances not yet known.

“The mid North Coast track between Telarah and Dungog remains closed, however works have been progressing well,” ARTC said in relation to the interstate network.