Epping and Hurstbridge rail line improvements
The Victorian Government is delivering a program of improvements on the Hurstbridge and Epping rail lines.
Information on this page
Project details
The Government is improving rail capacity and overcoming constraints on the two lines. A four stage program of improvements is now underway:
- Stage 1 - in November 2008 the direction of the Clifton Hill group trains was reversed in the City Loop during the morning so that they no longer have to cross tracks as they enter the loop. See the Changes to the rail timetable page for more details.
- Stage 2 - $52.2 million was allocated to duplicating the track between Clifton Hill and Westgarth. See the Clifton Hill Rail Project page for more details.
- Stage 3 - a second track between Keon Park and Epping will be constructed
- Stage 4 - the rail line will be extended from Epping to South Morang. See South Morang Rail Extension for more details.
Station improvements
Watsonia Station on the Hurstbridge line and Bell Station on the Epping line have been upgraded to Premium Stations.
Eltham Station carpark was extended by 100 carparks in September 2008, and the station has received the first of the new generation bike cages being rolled out across Melbourne.
Signalling upgrade
The signalling system on the Hurstbridge line is undergoing a $6 million upgrade to help improve the safety and reliability of train services.
The upgrade involves a $4 million project to modernise the signalling between Eltham and Hurstbridge stations and $2 million in works to replace the existing electric staff system between Greensborough and Eltham stations.
The electric staff (a metal baton) provides a train driver with the authority to proceed over a single line of railway between two stations. The driver is reassured that by possessing the staff, no other train can enter the same section of line. The staff is then handed over to the driver of the next train wanting to pass through that section of line. While the electric staff system is regarded as a safe system of train management, the proposed new system will not only assure the same levels of safety but will also reduce delays at Greensborough and Eltham.
The Eltham to Hurstbridge section of the project will involve automating the signalling to reduce waiting times of trains using the single track at Diamond Creek. Service reliability will be improved by reducing the time taken to move trains in and out of service at Hurstbridge. The project is being delivered in three stages:
- modernising the signalling system at Diamond Creek station and installing automatic gates at the nearby pedestrian rail crossing - construction works began in mid 2007 and were completed in May 2008
- providing extra signals at Hurstbridge station and motorising points for moving trains in and out of rail sidings that are used for storing trains - to be carried out during 2008-09
- installing automatic signals between Eltham and Hurstbridge - to be carried out during 2008-09.
Once the works have been completed, train movements will be controlled remotely from the Metrol train control centre.
Background
An initial study, completed in 2004, identified that key operational constraints are largely capacity and/or reliability related. These include:
- the at-grade junction at Jolimont where trains enter and leave the Loop
- the junction between the Hurstbridge and Epping lines at Clifton Hill and the adjacent single track crossing of Merri Creek
- the restrictive signalling system and single track sections between Greensborough and Hurstbridge
- the single track section between Keon Park and Epping.
For more information on the background of the study, contact the
Public Transport Division.
Media releases
Please visit the Premier's website for
media releases.