The Mernda Rail Extension opened to its first official train services on Sunday, allowing passengers to reach the north-eastern Melbourne suburb for the first time in almost 60 years.
The $600 million eight-kilometre extension, featuring three new stations at Mernda, Hawkstowe and Middle Gorge, is the result of almost 18 months of construction work along the rail corridor.
The South Morang Line has been renamed Mernda to mark completion of the project. When the first train reached Mernda on Sunday morning, it was the first official passenger service to take the journey since since the Whittlesea Line was decommissioned in 1959.
“What an exciting day for residents of Mernda, Doreen and surrounding areas who now have almost 1,000 services a week, plus a new bus network, together with walking and cycling paths to link up to the stations,” Labor MP for Yan Danielle Green said.
The Level Crossing Removal Authority successfully tested track, overhead wiring and rail infrastructure in July, while driver training took place in August. Work has been underway on the new rail line for approximately a year, having begun in late April 2017.
“I’ve witnessed the construction progress since April last year and spoken to many workers on site,” Labor MP for Mill Park Lily D’Ambrosio said.
“I’d like to thank them for their hard work on Mernda Rail, and I know our community thanks them too.”
The project included the construction of three new stations, three rail bridges and two underpasses, as well as a train stabling yard at the end of the line.
Finishing works, such as landscaping around the new stations, will be completed over the coming months.
“We said we’d return trains to Mernda for the first time in 60 years – and that’s exactly what we’ve done,” Victorian premier Daniel Andrews said.