Rail works blitz affects Geelong services

A CONSTRUCTION blitz to improve railway services in Melbourne’s west has seen buses replace trains on sections of the Geelong Line and Ballarat Line for a fortnight.

Geelong Line trains will only run between the Waurn Ponds and Wyndham Vale railway stations, with alternative services in place between Wyndham Vale and Southern Cross.

To allow crews to continue working safely 24 hours a day, buses will replace trains on the Geelong and Ballarat lines between Saturday (January 10) and January 23.

Passengers heading from any of the railway stations in the Geelong area will catch a train to Wyndham Vale, then a bus from Wyndham Vale to Werribee, then a Metro train to and from the city.

There are additional changes to services on most nights, with coaches replacing trains between Southern Cross and Wyndham Vale or Waurn Ponds.

There is limited space for bikes on V/Line trains and coach replacement services, with bikes not allowed on low-floor bus replacement coaches and no pets or hot food or hot liquids allowed.

Crews at the new West Tarneit Station are working around the clock to complete critical drilling under the rail line, construct the new platforms and install the prefabricated platform canopies. The new station will include a four-bay bus interchange, a 400-space car park, and an accessible underpass

Meanwhile, crews at Caroline Springs and Deer Park have started work on platform extensions as part of the Melton Line Upgrade, which will enable nine-car VLocity trains to run on the line from 2027, boosting capacity by 50 per cent at peak times.

In Melton, two new rail bridges are being built at Coburns and Exford roads and the new Melton Station, installing signalling, drainage and underground services.

For more information and timetables about the altered services, head to bigbuild.vic.gov.au/disruptions/westworks