A construction blitz to improve the safety and reliability of services along the northern rail corridor will take place during an extended rail closure this October and November.
Member for Sunbury Josh Bull today announced the major works on the Sunbury/Bendigo line, which will see around 700 level crossing construction workers working around the clock during a month of road and rail closures.
As part of work to remove two dangerous and congested level crossings on the Sunbury line, buses will replace trains between Sunbury and Sunshine, and the Bendigo line will be fully closed from 4 – 30 October.
The two level crossings at Main Road and Furlong Road in St Albans are being removed, while the existing Ginifer and St Albans station buildings are demolished and new stations are built.
To coincide with these works and minimise future disruption for passengers, V/Line will undertake more than $46 million in improvement works on the Bendigo, Swan Hill and Echuca lines.
During this time, coaches will replace trains on the Bendigo, Swan Hill and Echuca lines.
In Sunbury, crews will complete more than $360,000 in works, including removing mud holes and renewing signalling to ensure services remain safe and comfortable for passengers.
The track and asphalt at more than 50 level crossings on the Bendigo, Swan Hill and Echuca lines will also be renewed. Other works include important upgrades to classic Victorian railway infrastructure including the Taradale viaduct, Malmsbury viaduct and the Elphinstone tunnel.
A temporary timetable will be available at staffed Metro and V/Line stations and online so passengers can plan their journeys. Passengers should allow an extra 60 minutes travel time.
Full details, including information about alternative transport during the works, will be available at vline.com.au
Quotes attributable to Member for Sunbury Josh Bull
“Our community depends on reliable train services, and these improvement works will help us run more trains, more often.”
“We know these works will be frustrating for passengers, but we need to upgrade our tracks to ensure passengers can get where they need to go safer and sooner.”