Regional Rail Revival
Project dates: 2021
Regional Rail Revival
The Australian and Victorian governments have invested more than $4 billion in the Regional Rail Revival program, which is upgrading every regional passenger rail line in Victoria and creating jobs and supplier opportunities.
Ballarat Line Upgrade
The Ballarat Line Upgrade will enable extra services along the line, including trains every 20 minutes during the peaks and 40 minutes between the peaks from Sunday 31 January 2021.
The Ballarat Line Upgrade has delivered critical infrastructure including track duplication, passing loops, signalling upgrades, new platforms and extra track at key stations, and a train stabling facility to allow these new services to be introduced.
The project also included a new station at Cobblebank, a rebuilt Rockbank Station and upgrades at Bacchus Marsh, Ballan and Wendouree stations.
Bendigo and Echuca Line Upgrade
The Bendigo and Echuca Line Upgrade will deliver new stations at Goornong, Raywood and Huntly, track upgrades for faster and more frequent services to Echuca, and an electronic train order system for more services for Epsom and Eaglehawk.
The project also includes the development of a business case for track upgrades between Bendigo and Kyneton to deliver 40-minute service frequency during off-peak periods, and a planning study for the reopening of Harcourt Station.
Geelong Line Upgrade
The Australian and Victorian governments have invested more than $1 billion to upgrade the Geelong Line as part of Regional Rail Revival. The Waurn Ponds Station upgrade is the first step and includes a new second platform and track to allow more train services to be extended to this growing community.
The South Geelong to Waurn Ponds Duplication will duplicate track between South Geelong and Waurn Ponds, remove level crossings at Fyans Street and Surf Coast Highway, and upgrade South Geelong and Marshall stations to enable more frequent services and improved reliability for passengers. Separately, a train stabling facility is being built at Waurn Ponds to house V/Line’s growing train fleet.
Gippsland Line Upgrade
The Gippsland Line Upgrade has already delivered benefits for passengers on the Gippsland line, with upgrades to level crossings allowing VLocity trains to run to Bairnsdale for the first time.
The new rail bridge over the Avon River in Stratford is now complete and allows trains to travel at up to 90km/h in this section, improving reliability for passenger services. The project’s major upgrades between Pakenham and Traralgon will enable much needed extra off-peak services as track duplication, a crossing loop extension and second platforms at stations will provide more opportunities for trains to pass each other.
Improvements to accessibility and amenities at these stations will give passengers better journeys. Upgrades to drainage structures will mean trains can continue to operate efficiently and improve infrastructure resilience along the Gippsland line.
North East Line Upgrade
The North East Line Upgrade will enable improved train services and allow VLocity trains to run to Albury/Wodonga for the first time, delivering a more comfortable and reliable service for passengers.
The project will improve ride comfort for passenger train services by reducing bumps experienced during travel and will also make services more reliable by upgrading track and addressing the main causes of delays.
The Victorian Government has also ordered standard gauge VLocity trains, which will run on the line following the project’s completion and an extensive testing program.
Shepparton Line Upgrade
The Shepparton Line Upgrade is a staged program of works, which will give passengers more reliable services, faster journeys and more modern trains.
Stage 1 of the project is complete and included a stabling upgrade at Shepparton Station, which enabled 10 extra weekly services on the Shepparton line, fast-tracked by nearly 12 months.
Stage 2 of the Shepparton Line Upgrade will provide the infrastructure required for VLocity trains to run to Shepparton for the first time, improving service reliability and providing passengers with more comfortable journeys. This includes a crossing loop extension, platform extensions, new stabling facility to house the trains as well as level crossing upgrades between Donnybrook and Shepparton to ensure they're compatible with VLocity trains and to boost safety for road users and train passengers.
Stage 3 of the Shepparton Line Upgrade will deliver signalling upgrades which will enable nine return services on weekdays for Shepparton, Mooroopna, Murchison East and Nagambie. It will include track speed upgrades between Seymour and Shepparton to enable trains to travel faster, and an expansion of the stabling facility being delivered as part of Stage 2.
Warrnambool Line Upgrade
The Warrnambool Line Upgrade will deliver more frequent and reliable train services for passengers. It has already delivered benefits with 12 level crossings along the line upgraded to full active protection, boosting safety for motorists and passengers.
Stage 1 of the Warrnambool Line Upgrade also includes signalling upgrades and a new passing loop to increase reliability and to enable a fifth weekday return service for passengers.
Stage 2 of the Warrnambool Line Upgrade will bring VLocity trains to Warrnambool for the first time, providing more comfortable and reliable journeys for passengers.