The contract for the Melton Line Upgrade in Victoria has been awarded to John Holland, Kellogg Brown and Root (KBR), Metro Trains Melbourne and V/Line, in partnership with the Level Crossing Removal Project.
Early works are now underway on the $650 million project, which will include platform extensions at Cobblebank, Rockbank, Caroline Springs and Deer Park, allowing nine-car VLocity trains to run on the line and increasing passenger capacity by 50 per cent on peak services from 2027 onwards.
The federal and state governments have each committed $325 million to the project, which also includes a new train stabling yard at Cobblebank, “future-proofed” for electrification of the line to Melton.
Works to remove four level crossing removals in the west and build the new Melton Station are also progressing.
Meanwhile foundations are taking shape for the new rail bridges replacing level crossings at Coburns Road and Exford Road in Melton, and two new road bridges being constructed to replace level crossings at Ferris Road in Melton and Hopkins Road in Truganina.
The level crossings will be gone from the Melton Line next year, and the new station will open. It will feature four platforms to facilitate Ballarat rail services, and have dedicated extended platforms for services that will begin and end at Melton, including the longer VLocity trains.
