While the Picton (NSW) closure of the Sydney - Melbourne line...

While the Picton (NSW) closure of the Sydney - Melbourne line did not last long, intermodal trains between Melbourne and Brisbane can't operate due to rail tracks at Sandgate and Maitland in the NSW Hunter Valley being flooded.

These important lines also carry coal and gran trains, but have been closed since Tuesday (afternoon?), 5 July 2022. There's no advice yet as to when they'll reopen. I assume at the very least ballast (small rocks that aid drainage of tracks and act as load bearers for sleepers) will have scoured, and there'll be the usual damage to signalling cables.

Presumably LAU has to substitute more expensive road transport, but some roads were closed, such as the New England Highway between Maitland and Singleton NSW. There's also an alleged national shortage of truck drivers, with few young people wanting to undertake this sort of work.