Supporting the Growth of the Hunter Valley Coal Chain

Mascot Engineering was proud to support the construction of Pacific National’s new train provisioning and maintenance facility in Greta, NSW—an essential rail infrastructure project aimed at boosting the capacity of the Hunter Valley coal supply chain.

Situated alongside the Hunter Expressway, this 2.5-kilometre-long facility plays a crucial role in maintaining and refuelling Pacific National’s coal haulage locomotives and wagons. The site was designed to handle the growing demand for coal rail transport in the region, with a strong focus on operational efficiency and reliability.

The project included:

• Dedicated fuelling and provisioning areas
• Maintenance buildings for both locomotives and wagons
• Comprehensive electricity, data, water, and fuel supply infrastructure
• Storage facilities to support the ongoing operation of the site

For this large-scale rail facility, Mascot Engineering supplied a range of gastight / airtight access cover solutions tailored to the site’s demanding operational requirements:

• Class D Gastight / Watertight Infill Access Covers in a continuous trench run assembly, used to securely cover the buried trench housing the fuel lines. Utilising standard size manhole covers, the trench run covers where assembled locally at our Sydney production facility and delivered to site in manageable segments to assist in the installation process.
• Large 1200 square Precast Mascot GRC Pits with Class D Gastight / Watertight Infill Access Covers, providing secure access to key underground services.

The Mascot Engineering technical team worked closely with the installer and asset owner, providing on-site technical support including inspections and facilitated independent third-party product testing in nearby Newcastle.  These products were chosen for their proven performance in heavy-duty rail infrastructure environments, offering a reliable, sealed solution for protecting critical services such as fuel, water, and data infrastructure.

The Greta facility has significantly improved the efficiency and capacity of Pacific National’s coal train operations in the Hunter Valley. Mascot Engineering’s durable and sealed access cover solutions ensure critical underground infrastructure remains protected, serviceable, and compliant—supporting long-term performance and safety in one of Australia’s most important freight corridors.

For more information on our range of access covers click here