Crowd flocks to station’s celebration

THE Waurn Ponds Station’s celebration on Sunday marked the completion of upgrades and the resumption of normal rail services.

The first train to use the new second platform arrived from Melbourne without fanfare on Sunday at 8.29am – only three minutes behind schedule – and departed shortly afterwards on its way to Warrnambool.

Less than two hours later, a four-hour community event began outside the station, which included a smoking ceremony and Welcome to Country from Wadawurrung Traditional Owners, live music, a petting zoo, and cricket activities run by the Melbourne Renegades.

There was also a free sausage sizzle run by the Lions Club of Geelong, as well as free coffee and ice-cream for the hundreds of people who attended.

The completion of the upgrades last month – including the final fit-outs on the second platform and pedestrian overpass and installation of the last 100 m of track – has allowed 20 peak and off-peak services to be extended to and from Waurn Ponds Station each week, with two new services in the morning and two in the evening on weekdays.

The first of these extended services ran on Monday this week.

The 1.4 km of duplicated track means trains will now be able to pass each other at the station.

Other upgrades at the station include a new forecourt on the north side of the station, extra bike hoops and storage, and a new passenger drop-off zone, and an extended car park with more than 200 new and improved parking spaces.

A new walking and cycling path extending from Baanip Boulevard allows access to the station from the south side for the first time.

Work is now progressing on the Geelong Line upgrades, with early works underway on the South Geelong to Waurn Ponds duplication.

“The upgrades we’ve made to Waurn Ponds Station will make it easier for passengers to get to where they need to go with more reliable and frequent services, and better accessibility around the station,” South Barwon MP Darren Cheeseman said.

“With the future upgrade to Marshall station and the removal of dangerous level crossings at Barwon Heads Road and Surf Coast Highway in the pipeline, we’re ensuring locals and visitors have better access to transport – improving travel in the south-west for years to come.”