Maccaferri Rockfall protection system for Sydney Trains network 

A 96 m long x 2.5 m high Maccaferri flexible high energy Rockfall barrier system was installed to mitigate the rockfall hazards along the Illawarra Line to safeguard human lives and infrastructures. 

 

The Illawarra Line is a commuter railway line in the southern suburbs of Sydney and is a part of the Sydney Trains network. The line was constructed in the 1880s to Wollongong to take advantage of agricultural and mining potentials in the Illawarra area. It is the first railway in New South Wales to run electric train services.  

 

 Between Km. 66.256 and Km. 66.590 of the rail track, a rockfall barrier was chosen as the most appropriate solution to protect the rail infrastructure and users. This stretch of the railway line was identified as a high-risk area due to the presence of very large and fragmented boulders in the adjacent cut slopes.  

 

 Ground Stabilisation Systems were contracted by Sydney Trains to install a 96 m long x 2.5 m high Maccaferri Rockfall Barrier system near the Coledale Train Station to protect the line from future rock fall events.  

 

 The Rockfall Barrier are supplied in a ‘kit form’ for easy installation. All components are provided in the kit, includes prefabricated wire rope mesh panels, posts, base plates, brakes, cables, anchors and other related accessories. Maccaferri is capable of supplying dynamic rockfall barriers with energy capacities ranging from 35 kJ to 9000 kJ.   

 

 Geofabrics Australasia Pty Ltd, Maccaferri distributor in Australia, supplied the rockfall barrier in February 2022. The barrier is capable to withstand an impact up to 250 kJ. The project was completed over three weekend shut periods, utilising specialist drilling equipment and qualified rope access personal.  

 

 This project is one of the winners of the March Geofabrics & Maccaferri photo competition.  

 

Click here to read about it.   

 

 For more information, please contact us.