Signalling and track upgrades have been announced for the Bendigo/Echuca line in Victoria, with the state government looking to boost regional passenger service speed and reliability.
The works, due to begin in late 2018, will also include track re-sleepering, changes to train control and train protection systems, and upgrades to level crossings and drainage systems.
State transport minster Jacinta Allan said the upgrades will enable trains to travel up to 130 km/h, up from 80 km/h.
“This vital project will allow trains to travel faster, reducing travel times and getting local passengers where they need to go sooner,” Allan said.
28 train weekly services were added to the Bendigo line last year. However, performance on the line has dipped of late, with only 76.6% of its services running on-time in May.
According to regional train operator V/Line, trespasser and police-related incidents, instances of trains stopping at stations longer than scheduled, and delays in the shared section of the metropolitan network were all partly responsible for the drop in punctuality.
Also, while new VLocity trains have being introduced to the regional network, the condition of the Bendigo/Echuca line’s infrastructure mean they currently move at lower speeds.
“We already run VLocitys on this line but they have to run at reduced speed,” Allan said.
“So doing the track upgrades, doing the level crossing upgrades, means that we can run these trains faster between Bendigo and Echuca.
“The work on the Echuca line can start in the coming months, it will take a little while to complete those works.”
Additional services originating and terminating at Epsom and Eaglehawk will also be an outcome of the upgrades, Victorian Nationals senator Bridget McKenzie said.
“These are key junctions to the future and growth of Bendigo and Central Victoria,” she said.
“It is great to see upgrades are underway after local communities have called for increased efficiency on the Bendigo Echuca line for many years.”
Funding for the upgrades will come out of the joint federal and state-funded $1.75 billion Regional Rail Revival program. $81 million for the Bendigo/Echuca line upgrades will be provided by the federal government. The project is expected to cost a total of approximately $91 million. The remaining funding will be provided by the state government.