The state government is talking up the benefits of a major program of works in northern Victoria.
A MAJOR program of works along the Seymour and Shepparton lines to help deliver safer and more reliable services is finished.
The $4.8 million level crossing renewal works involved pulling up the road surface, completing repairs to the tracks underneath and then relaying a new surface at three level crossings, helping to improve safety and ensure the ongoing upkeep of the line.
A crew of more than 200 V/Line staff and contractors carried out the package of works that also included bridge repairs, track maintenance, mud hole removal, culvert works, signal upgrades and repairs to some platforms.
The project team also used the opportunity to complete rail milling along the Seymour line as part of the state government’s $2.7 billion Building Works program. Rail milling removes rust and debris from the rail line, assisting a smoother ride, reducing wear and tear on trains and keeping train detection systems working.
Passengers who use Donnybrook and Wallan stations are already experiencing upgrades to their station, thanks to the jointly funded Regional Rail Revival.
More than 90 local businesses located within 50km of Donnybrook and Wallan benefitted from the upgrades. These local businesses included plant and equipment hire companies, local quarries, batch plants, galvanisers and civil contractors.
St Andrews-based business Kerby Kerb installed approximately 800 metres of kerbing in the new car park at Donnybrook Station while Brunton Engineering, located in Epping, installed the new bus shelters at Wallan Station. Crushed rock for the project was sourced from Donnybrook’s Mountain View Quarries.
Sunbury company Jordan Rail provided specialised plant hire during the project, including hi-rail equipment used on the track when trains weren’t running, while Rangedale Drainage Services from Altona North provided digging services.
Regional Victorian suppliers also contributed to the project with almost 100 tonnes of structural steel supplied by Cobram-based CPE Constructions and approximately 500 tonnes of precast concrete footings and coping stones for the Donnybrook platform extension supplied by Maffra-based Gippsland Precast.
Wallan Station’s upgraded citybound waiting room has two new unisex toilets and allows a staff member to be based on the platform during the morning peak.
The upgrades included platform extensions at both stations, more car parks, better access to bus services and allowing passengers to access all train doors which eliminates a key source of delays for Seymour Line services.
The Donnybrook and Wallan station upgrades were delivered as part of the Regional Rail Revival program, a $4 billion investment by the Australian and Victorian governments, which is upgrading every regional passenger rail line in Victoria and creating 3,000 jobs.
Public transport minister Ben Carroll said as they worked to upgrade every rail line, “we’re also investing in the maintenance work that improves day to day journeys to get Victorians where they need to go”.
“At a time where our economy continues to recover from the global pandemic, we’ll continue to support local jobs – and it’s great to see businesses around Donnybrook and Wallan benefit from our upgrades,” Carroll said.
Member for Yan Yean Danielle Green said it was great to see “continual work on our line to help deliver more reliable services”.
“As more people return to the rail network – it’s good to see passengers enjoying the upgrades at Donnybrook and Wallan, providing more options for people to get on the train,” Green said.