The Regional Rail Revival is a joint initiative between the Australian federal government and the Victorian state government to upgrade all regional railway lines in Victoria. The project has an estimated total cost of A$4 billion.[1] A$2.3 billion of the project's total cost is being funded by the Australian Government.[2] It was delivered by Rail Projects Victoria (RPV) until April 2024, and then by the Level Crossing Removal Project.[3] The project is guided by the 2016 Regional Network Development Plan, which outlines the short, medium and long-term priorities for a modernised regional rail network.[4]
 | |
| Location | Victoria, Australia |
|---|---|
| Proposer | Government of Victoria |
| Status | Under Construction |
| Type | Railway upgrade |
| Cost estimate | $1.8 billion |
| Start date | October 2017 |
| Completion date | c. 2024–2025 |
| Stakeholders | Government of Australia (major funding partner) Government of Victoria (minor funding partner) V/Line (operator) |
Projects
editRegional Rail Revival is made up of multiple projects:[5]
- Ararat Stabling
- Ballarat Line Upgrade (completed early 2021)[6]
- track duplication between Deer Park West and Melton (length of 18 kilometres (11 mi)), and at Bacchus Marsh
- new Cobblebank station between Rockbank and Melton
- reconstruction of Rockbank Station
- upgrades to Bacchus Marsh, Ballan and Wendouree stations, including new platforms
- new train stabling facility at Maddingley
- passing loops at Ballan and Millbrook
- signal and track upgrades
- Bendigo and Echuca Line Upgrade[7]
- modernised electronic train order (ETO) system from Bendigo to Swan Hill and Echuca
- upgrades to ten level crossings between Eaglehawk and Bendigo with improved train detection technology
- track upgrades on the Echuca Line, which will increase the maximum train speed on the line.
- new stations at Huntly, Goornong, and Raywood. Goornong and Raywood stations were previously closed in 1979 and 1981 respectively.
- potential reopening of Harcourt railway station (planning)
- Donnybrook upgrade (completed August 2020)
- 150 new car parking spaces
- New platform shelters
- Improved pedestrian access
- Improved security with addition CCTV and new platform lighting
- An extension of the city-bound platform
- Geelong Line Upgrade (mostly completed August 2024)[8]
- track duplication between South Geelong and Waurn Ponds
- upgrades to South Geelong, Marshall and Waurn Ponds stations
- new train maintenance and stabling facility at Waurn Ponds
- level crossing removals
- Armstrong Creek corridor extension (planning)
- Gippsland Line Upgrade[9]
- new rail bridge over the Avon River in Stratford (completed)
- upgrades to Bunyip, Longwarry, Morwell and Traralgon stations, including new platforms
- track duplication at Bunyip and Longwarry
- extension of the Morwell crossing loop
- level crossing and signalling upgrades
- drainage structure upgrades
- Murray Basin Rail Project
- upgrades to the Victorian freight network including sleeper replacement and track upgrade
- North-East Line Upgrade (completed December 2020)
- introduction of VLocity trains on the line for the first time
- Shepparton Line Upgrade
- Wallan station upgrade (completed August 2020)
- An extension of the existing waiting room
- New toilets in the waiting room
- New platform shelters
- Two new bus bays with shelters
- Improved security with addition CCTV and new platform lighting
- Additional bicycle parking
- An extension of the city-bound platform
- Warrnambool Line Upgrade (Stage 1)[10]
- upgrades to 12 level crossings with improved train detection technology (completed)
- signalling upgrades
- new crossing loop at Boorcan
- Warrnambool Line Upgrade (Stage 2)
- upgrades to more than 50 level crossings with improved train detection technology
- stabling upgrade at Warrnambool station
- introduction of VLocity trains on the line for the first time
Construction
editTimeline
edit
- 27 October 2017 – Construction as part of Ballarat Line Upgrade commences.[11]
- 3 November 2017 – New station at Toolern (now Cobblebank), on Melton Line, announced.[12]
- 20 December 2017 – Wendouree Station upgrade announced.[13]
- 14 March 2018 – Geotechnical investigations begin to be carried out on the Gippsland Line.[14]
- 19 July 2018 – Ballan station upgrade plans revealed.[15]
- 22 October 2018 -Construction commences on Shepparton Station stabling facility.[16]
- 30 May 2019 – Construction begins as part of Donnybrook Station and Wallan Station upgrades.[17]
- Early July 2019 – Total work time as a part of the Ballarat Line Upgrade hits 1,000,000 hours.[18]
- 26 August 2019 – Construction at Rockbank Station finishes, and the station is opened up to the public.[19]
- 20 November 2019 – Construction of the new Avon River railbridge in Stratford commences.[20]
- 1 December 2019– New station at Toolern, named Cobblebank, opens to public.[21]
- 6 December 2019 – Construction begins on stabling facility at Ararat.[22]
- 28 January 2020 – Construction begins on the upgrade of four level crossings on the Warrnambool Line.[23]
- 23 April 2020 – Donnybrook Station Upgrade completed, with addition of 150 new car parking spaces, new platform shelters and the city bound platform extended, improved pedestrian access, improved security with CCTV and lighting on platforms and in the car park.[24]
- 24 April 2020 – Works completed on four new level crossing boom gates along the Warrnambool Line.[25]
- 31 July 2020 – 3 new stations, named Huntly, Goornong, and Raywood, announced to be constructed on the Bendigo railway line, to be completed by 2022.[26]
- 12 December 2021 – Construction at Goornong Station finishes, and the station opens to the public.[27]
- 31 May 2022 - Waurn Ponds Station upgrade completed, with addition of a second platform, an upgraded car park and a new pedestrian overpass.[28]
- 16 July 2022 – Construction at Huntly Station finishes, and the station opens to the public.[29]
- 17 July 2022 – Construction at Raywood Station finishes, and the station opens to the public.[29]
- 22 July 2022 - Construction of the Gippsland Line Upgrade commences.[30]
- 13 May 2023 - Construction of the new Waurn Ponds stabling facility finishes, allowing an additional 31 services per week on the Geelong Line.[31]
- 26 August 2024 - Duplication of the Geelong line between Warun Ponds and South Geelong completed, with second platforms at Marshall and South Geelong stations. The level crossings at Fyans Street and Surf Coast Highway were also removed and replaced with rail bridges.[32][33]
See also
edit- Regional Fast Rail project – a prior project aimed at improving regional rail services across Victoria
- Regional Rail Link project – a prior project to separate regional V/Line services from the electrified Melbourne suburban services
References
edit- ^ "Regional Rail Revival Package". Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications. Archived from the original on 19 January 2022. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
- ^ "Agreements on Inland Rail and Regional Rail Revival reached between Australian and Victorian governments". Urbanalyst. 19 March 2018. Archived from the original on 24 October 2020. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
- ^ "Rail Projects Victoria". Victoria's Big Build. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
- ^ "Regional Network Development Plan". Archived from the original on 27 March 2020. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
- ^ "Regional Rail Revival". Victoria's Big Build – Regional Rail Revivial. Archived from the original on 3 February 2022. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
- ^ "Ballarat Line Upgrade". Victoria's Big Build – Regional Rail Revivial. Archived from the original on 3 February 2022. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
- ^ "Bendigo and Echuca Line Upgrade". Victoria's Big Build – Regional Rail Revivial. Archived from the original on 2 April 2022. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
- ^ "Geelong Line Upgrade". Victoria's Big Build – Regional Rail Revivial. Archived from the original on 3 February 2022. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
- ^ "Gippsland Line Upgrade". Victoria's Big Build – Regional Rail Revivial. Archived from the original on 3 February 2022. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
- ^ "Warrnambool Line Upgrade". Victoria's Big Build – Regional Rail Revivial. Archived from the original on 14 May 2023. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
- ^ "Work Kicks Off On The Ballarat Line Upgrade". Archived from the original on 12 April 2020. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
- ^ "New Train Station For Melbourne's Growing West". Archived from the original on 12 April 2020. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
- ^ "Ballarat Line Upgrade Bringing Extra Benefits For Locals". Archived from the original on 8 April 2020. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
- ^ "Half A Billion Dollar Gippsland Line Upgrade Kicks Off". Archived from the original on 8 April 2020. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
- ^ "Ballan Station upgrade plans unveiled". Archived from the original on 8 April 2020. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
- ^ "Shepparton Station Stabling Construction Underway". Archived from the original on 8 April 2020. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
- ^ "Construction underway at Donnybrook and Wallan stations". Archived from the original on 11 April 2020. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
- ^ "Ballarat Line Upgrade to hit one million hours". Archived from the original on 11 April 2020. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
- ^ "New And Improved Rockbank Station". Retrieved 20 May 2020.
- ^ "Construction underway on the new Avon River bridge". Archived from the original on 11 April 2020. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
- ^ "Victoria's Newest Station Opens At Cobblebank". Archived from the original on 8 April 2020. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
- ^ "Construction starts on Ararat stabling upgrade". Archived from the original on 11 April 2020. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
- ^ "Construction underway on Warrnambool Line level crossing upgrades". Archived from the original on 20 April 2020. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
- ^ "Donnybrook Station upgrade complete". Archived from the original on 6 August 2020. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
- ^ "Improved safety on the Warrnambool Line". Archived from the original on 6 August 2020. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
- ^ "Station Construction Fast-Tracked As Consultation Begins". Archived from the original on 30 March 2021. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
- ^ "Bendigo and Echuca Line Upgrade – Goornong Station". Victoria's Big Build – Regional Rail Revivial. Archived from the original on 4 March 2022. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
- ^ "Now arriving at Waurn Ponds Station". Victoria's Big Build - Regional Rail Revival. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
- ^ a b "Timetable changes on the Echuca and Swan Hill lines". Public Transport Victoria. Archived from the original on 16 July 2022. Retrieved 16 July 2022.
- ^ "Upgrading the Gippsland Line for the future". Victoria's Big Build - Regional Rail Revival. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
- ^ "More Trains For Booming Geelong Communities". Premier of Victoria. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
- ^ "Winter blitz complete, level crossings gone, new stations open". Victoria's Big Build. 26 August 2024. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
- ^ "South Geelong to Waurn Ponds Duplication". Victoria's Big Build. 16 January 2024. Retrieved 28 August 2024.