The Australian Rail Track Corporation is asking residents along the North Melbourne to Albury section of the rail corridor to stay vigilant around the railway this holiday period as it undertakes a range of work.
The standard gauge track will be closed from 28 December to 31 January with further works taking place from now until mid-January.
ARTC’s executive general manager interstate Tim Ryan said despite many rail services not operating over Christmas and January, the North East Victorian rail corridor will busy with the ARTC undertaking a range of upgrade and maintenance work.
"With trains not operating during the Regional Rail Link shutdown period we’ve scheduled a range of works because it is a great window to get in and undertake them more safely and efficiently than we would otherwise be able," Ryan said.
"That means that there will be a greater number of work vehicles and workers around the track than usual and we ask residents to take care when travelling near the rail corridor for their own, and trackworker, safety.”
Most of the work will take place in daylight hours between 6am and 6.30pm, while some overnight work will occur at various sections of the track.
Ryan said some of the works will require road closures for short periods of time, but there will be traffic management in place and local residents will be informed.
"The work we are undertaking to rebuild this section of track is an important part of our major program to repair the line between Melbourne and Sydney," Ryan said.