Rail works to be held over Easter

MORE than $6 million in track, signalling and level crossing improvement works on the Geelong to Warrnambool line will be carried out over Easter.
More than 200 V/Line staff and construction crews will work over the long weekend, including replacing more than 200 metres of track along both platforms at Geelong Station with new concrete sleepers, rail, ballast and drainage.
More than 1,600 new concrete sleepers will also be installed between Marshall and Waurn Ponds.
Boom gates will be installed at Flaxmill Road level crossing between Colac and Waurn Ponds, the Barwon Heads Road level crossing between South Geelong and Marshall will be resurfaced, and about $2 million in signalling work will be carried out between Lara and Geelong.
As a result of the works, trains between Southern Cross and Geelong/Marshall/Waurn Ponds and Warrnambool will be replaced by coaches on Friday, Saturday and Sunday over Easter.
Easter Normal train services will operate between Southern Cross and Tarneit and Wyndham Vale.
Member for Western Victoria Gayle Tierney said the works would improve the safety and reliability of Geelong and Warrnambool services.
“Not as many people catch the train over Easter, so it’s a perfect time to get this work done.”
In other Geelong line-related matters, Corangamite federal member Sarah Henderson has accused the state government of stonewalling the duplication of the railway line between South Geelong and Waurn Ponds and other major projects until after the federal election.
She said any infrastructure project valued at more than $100 million required Infrastructure Australia (IA) assessment in order to attract federal funding but Victorian Transport Minister Jacinta Allan would not make an application to IA for the duplication.
“What we need is a proponent to progress a full feasibility study or business case for this vital rail project.”