UGL Regional Linx (UGLRL) has officially launched its headquarters in Orange, NSW, for rail’s Country Regional Network (CRN).
UGLRL was in February last year selected by the NSW Government as the successful tenderer for the operation and maintenance of the CRN from the end of January 2022 and running for the following 10 years.
UGLRL’s Orange office was opened on Friday, 25 March, by Acting Premier and Minister for Regional NSW Paul Toole and Minister for Regional Transport and Roads, Sam Farraway.
Mr Toole said UGLRL is delivering on its promise to deliver a new regional head office and purpose-built Network Control Centre as part of its $1.5 billion contract to operate and maintain the (CRN) on behalf of Transport for NSW.
“The CRN is the backbone of NSW’s regional rail network for all our customers, from our rail passengers to farmers and industry, and to today open the headquarters in Orange builds on NSW Government’s vision to deliver more jobs and major infrastructure in the regions.
“In a win-win for Orange, part of the former NSW Department of Primary Industries building in Kite Street, is now a rail operations and maintenance hub, with 75 UGLRL staff working from the new headquarters,” Mr Toole said.
Mr Farraway said the team will be managing the CRN, which comprises 2,400 kilometres of operational rail lines and 3,000 kilometres of non-operational corridors, 1,300 level crossings and more than 900 bridges and 1,200 property assets such as stations.
“The NSW Government has worked closely with UGLRL to ensure that not only will operational performance measures be met and exceeded but the positive impact of increased regional employment in our communities is realised,” Mr Farraway said.
Other depots on the CRN will be maintained by UGLRL in Bathurst, Dubbo, and West Wyalong with satellite depots in Queanbeyan, Narrabri and Tamworth.
UGLRL’s mobilisation towards Service Commencement has seen it act on its commitment to have the company’s CRN headquarters established at Orange in the NSW Central West and having almost all of its employees situated ON the CRN.
“UGLRL felt it not only logical, but very important to have our people living and working on the CRN,” said UGLRL CEO, John Pistak.
“Orange is strategically located along the CRN between numerous major depots and we identified this early in the tender as the best place to establish the hub of our operations.
“Orange is a vibrant and rapidly growing city that has welcomed us with open arms and we are very excited to be establishing our headquarters here,” John Pistak said.
The Kite Street building will also soon house the CRN’s Network Control Centre, currently operating out of Mayfield, Newcastle.