The rail loop near at Georges Plains, south of Bathurst, is one of two being built by the NSW government in a $21.5 million project announced in June.

The second rail loop will be south of Rydal Railway Station, between Bathurst and Lithgow.

MAP: Where the loops are being built …

The project involves building about 3.6 kilometres of new track and associated signalling infrastructure so trains of up to 1.5 kilometres in length can pass each other.

Without the Rydal passing loop, a train at Tarana has to wait for up to 30 minutes for an oncoming train from Wallerawang to clear the 27-kilometre single-line section of track before being able to progress towards Lithgow and Sydney, according to the NSW government.

Similarly, without the Georges Plains loop, a train at Newbridge has to wait for an oncoming train from Bathurst to clear the 33-kilometre single-line section of track before being able to progress towards Bathurst and Sydney.

A connection point which will take trains off the main western rail corridor onto the loop has already been completed at Georges Plains, and all work is expected to be completed in early 2019.

Member for Bathurst Paul Toole said the undertaking would “ensure the nine million tonnes of freight transported annually along the western corridor moves more efficiently”.