Victorian Government announced that work has begun on the AUD 530 million (USD 417 million) Gippsland Line upgrade, which will deliver more frequent, reliable train services for passengers in Victoria’s east.
“We’re getting things done – delivering the upgrades we need to run new trains and boost services to Gippsland. This is the next step in our Regional Rail Revival which will boost services, jobs and communities across the state,” Minister for Public Transport Jacinta Allan said.
Over the coming months, crews will drill over 50 boreholes and 120 test pits near the bridge and in various locations along the Gippsland line, to better understand ground conditions and soil quality.
The information gathered will inform the design and construction of the project, which includes level crossing upgrades and track duplication to untangle bottlenecks and deliver more reliable and frequent train services. The project will also build additional platforms at Bunyip, Longwarry, Morwell and Traralgon.
Replacing the Avon River Bridge will remove the 10km/h speed limit in this section of track, improving journey times for passengers.
As planning and environmental approvals are likely to take some time, the scope of the project has been expanded to include upgrades to level crossings between Bairnsdale and Sale. This will allow the lighter VLocity trains to run on the Bairnsdale line for the first time to prolong the life of the Avon River Bridge.
The project will establish a main site office in Gippsland – boosting the local economy and creating hundreds of jobs and opportunities for local suppliers. The Gippsland Line Upgrade is part of the Regional Rail Revival (RRR) package, a joint initiative of the Victorian and Australian governments that will upgrade every regional passenger line in Victoria.
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