Regional Rail Revival – Major Packages Out To Market
11 April 2019
With the half-a-billion-dollar
Ballarat
Line Upgrade in full swing, work on the rest of the $1.75 billion
Regional
Rail Revival is set to expand across the state with a major package
of works out to market.
Deputy Prime Minister and Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport
and Regional Development Michael McCormack and Victorian Minster for
Transport Infrastructure Jacinta Allan today announced contractors would
be sought to deliver major upgrades on three regional
rail lines.
Mr McCormack said the Ballarat line’s transformation is the first
Regional Rail Revival project to get underway and similar upgrades would
soon be replicated on other regional lines across
Victoria.
“I’m delighted to announce we’re seeking Expressions of Interest to
design and build the bulk of the Gippsland Line Upgrade, Shepparton Line
Upgrade, and Bendigo and Echuca Line Upgrade,” he said.
“Packaging these projects together will mean works on these crucial
regional upgrades can get underway and allows the most capable and
experienced construction companies in
Victoria to compete for this multi-million-dollar package of works.”
Ms Allan said more than a year of planning and design work had taken
place to reach this important milestone and get these projects out to
market.
“The specialist project teams at
Rail Projects Victoria have undertaken
extensive investigations to determine the infrastructure needed to
deliver benefits to passengers on these lines,” she said.
“We’ve seen the unprecedented construction taking place along the
Ballarat line, including upgrades to signalling and level crossings,
crossing loops, station upgrades, duplicated track and stabling and this
project is a sign of what’s to come on the Shepparton, Bendigo and
Gippsland lines.
“These works mean more regional Victorians can look forward to better
train services sooner.”
The Gippsland Line Upgrade scope of works has been refined and finalised
following details investigations and rail operations assessments by Rail
Projects Victoria in the past year.
The project will include upgrading signalling, duplicating track,
extending a crossing loop, adding platforms at four stations, a stabling
facility, modernising train detection at level crossings and renewing
the drainage structures underneath the rail to deliver huge benefits for
passengers.
These upgrades will enable more frequent services for Gippsland
passengers, boost safety for motorists and train passengers, and improve
the line’s ongoing reliability and resilience issues.
Stage two of the
Victorian Government-funded
Shepparton Line Upgrade
includes platform extensions and stabling to suit VLocity trains, level
crossing upgrades and an extension of the Murchison East crossing loop,
all of which will enable VLocity trains to travel to and from Shepparton
for the first time.
This project will be delivered in stages, with the VLocity trains
enabled as part of works on stage two, while work to enable nine return
services will be part of a future stage three, with a business case
currently under development.
“The Shepparton line is an important part of our network, which is why
we’re getting on with the work while we continue planning to deliver
even more benefits for passengers,” Ms Allan said.
“Passengers are already reaping the benefits of our investment in the
Shepparton line, with 10 weekly services to be introduced on the line on
Monday thanks to work on stage one of the project.”
The contract also includes signalling upgrades from Bendigo to Epsom and
Eaglehawk, to enable Bendigo Metro Stage 2 and give passengers in the
City of Greater Bendigo a metro-style train service.
Planning and site investigations across the three lines are already well
underway, with construction to begin as early as next year.
Construction on the Gippsland-Shepparton-Bendigo package of works is
targeted for completion in 2022, subject to planning and environmental
approvals.
The $1.75 billion Regional Rail Revival program, funded by the Victorian
and Australian governments, will upgrade every passenger line in
Victoria and will create more than 1000 jobs.
More information about the Regional Rail Revival is available at
regionalrailrevival.vic.gov.au
--ENDS--
Source: Victorian Government - www.premier.vic.gov.au
Contact: N/A
External Links: regionalrailrevival.vic.gov.au
Recent news by: Victorian Government