Contractor signed for rail upgrades

A CONTRACTOR has been appointed to duplicate the rail line between South Geelong and Marshall stations and remove two level crossings.

Around eight kilometres of track will be laid by the Djilang Alliance – compromised of McConnell Dowell, Downer, Arup and WSP – including over the Barwon River, and both the Fyans Street and Surf Coast Highway level crossings will be taken out as part of the works.

The upgrades are a continuation of major construction along the Geelong Line to cope with increasing demand and, starting later this year, are scheduled for completion in late 2024.

“We’re getting on with upgrades to Victoria’s busiest regional rail line to improve safety and provide more trains, more often to the growing community,” Transport Infrastructure minister Jacinta Allan said.

Once complete, the works will allow five train services an hour during peak times and three per hour off peak to be extended to Marshall and Waurn
Ponds stations.

“These upgrades will better connect locals and visitors to the Geelong region for years to come,” Ms Allan said.

A second platform and line at Waurn Ponds station has already been completed, facilitating 20 extended peak and off-peak services each week.

Major earthworks on a stabling yard to house VLocity trains at the station are underway to enable the overnight storage of rolling stock needed to support the additional services for the line once the upgrades are complete.

South Barwon MP Darren Cheeseman said he was pleased a contract for the next stage of works had been inked as it would “better connect locals – making it quicker, easier and safer to get to where you need to go”.

The announcement of the rail line duplication between Waurn Ponds and South Geelong means there is now one key stretch of single track that must be addressed: the line into Geelong station that includes a bridge, tunnel and level crossings.