New station to open next month

GOORNONG Station is set to open next month, with trains expected to stop at the newly constructed space from 12 December.

The site includes a single-sided platform, seating and shelter, bike hoops, a car park with lighting and CCTV and a pedestrian crossing over Midland Highway.

Two trains will stop on weekdays, bumping to four on the weekend, for a total of 18 weekly services.

Minister for Transport Infrastructure and Member for Bendigo East, Jacinta Allan, said the station would improve the area’s public transport network.

“The new Goornong Station is one step closer to giving passengers more reliable journeys, and it’s fantastic to see that trains will once again be able to stop here,” she said.

“We promised to deliver these new stations and we’re getting on with it, delivering better access to our transport network to give passengers more choice about where they live, work and spend time with those they love.”

Other works in the area include the replacement of more than 20,000 wooden sleepers with concrete parts, and more than 50,000 tonnes of ballast added along the track.

The upgrades mean trains can travel between 80kph and 130kph from the new station to Epsom.

Further construction for the Bendigo and Echuca line upgrade includes the building of Huntly and Raywood stations by mid and late 2022, respectively.

Almost $50 million is being put into the three stations, with funding from both the State and Federal governments.

Member for Bendigo West, Maree Edwards, said the additions to the region’s train line would benefit the whole community.

“This is great news for Bendigo, more stations give more options for locals to use public transport and delivers a massive boost to our local economy,” she said.

A revised December train timetable is available on the PTV website.