Victorian Minister for Public Transport Terry Mulder has announced that early stage works on the Regional Rail Link will begin by July 1.

 

"Regional Rail Link will get started by moving part of the existing track between Sunshine and Tottenham to make way for the future country line tracks," Mr Mulder said.

 

"The Regional Rail Link will mean V/Line's country trains having a separate track for the first time to improve the reliability and capacity of the Geelong, Ballarat and Bendigo lines.

 

The first construction phase will beginning in July is expected to cause a two-week closure of the Sydenham, Ballarat and Bendigo train lines.

 

Mr Mulder said during the two-week shutdown, from 1 to 18 July, essential maintenance works would also be carried out by V/Line on country lines and by Metro on suburban Melbourne tracks.

 

The following works will take place during the two-week closure:

  • The Regional Rail Link Authority (through Metro Trains Melbourne) will realign the Sydenham line tracks between Tottenham and Sunshine to make way for the new Regional Rail Link tracks.
  • Metro Trains Melbourne will undertake essential maintenance works to tracks, sleeper renewal, points and crossing works, overhead wiring, platforms, bridge and viaduct foundations and drainage, platform renewal at Middle Footscray station, station painting at Middle Footscray, Tottenham, Keilor plains, Watergardens and St Albans and pit renewals at St Albans and Ginifer stations.
  • V/Line will undertake maintenance activities and major renewal and embankment works along both the Ballarat and Bendigo corridors;
    • Ballarat - stabilisation of the Ingliston Bank, stabilisation and drainage works to the Fiskin cutting
    • Bendigo – culvert renewal between Kangaroo Flat and Harcourt stations, essential maintenance works at Potts Road level crossing (between Malmsbury and Elphingstone stations)
    • Track maintenance, tamping of tracks, minor work on bridges, culvert cleaning works
  • The Sunbury Electrification Project will undertake station upgrade works at Sunbury and Diggers Rest stations:
    • Sunbury – platform extension and renewal, yard track stabling works and refurbishing the existing station building
    • Diggers Rest – platform extension and renewal, refurbishing the existing station and car park construction
    • Installing new crossover track at Watergardens, overhead wire works, signalling works, track works to support signalling and level crossing works.

 

The $270 million Sunbury Electrification Project will electrify the rail line from Watergardens to Sunbury and change the way trains on the Sydenham-Sunbury line currently operate. It will allow this line to carry more passengers and run more reliably.