Regional rail network improvements
The safety and efficiency of the regional rail network in Victoria is being enhanced through a series of projects.
See also Regional railway station projects for details of other projects in each region.
Region (relevant rail line)
Barwon South West (Geelong/Warrnambool line)
Current and future projects
Completed projects
- A new track and new signalling system on the Geelong line was part of the Regional Fast Rail project
- Maintenance work worth $2.5 million was completed on the line between Geelong and Warrnambool in March 2007. The works included lowering the track at Terang Station; upgrading the Warrnambool rail bridge; and resurfacing the track to improve speeds along the line.
- Safety at various level crossings has been improved; see Level crossing upgrades since 2003 for more details.
- Various Railway pedestrian crossing upgrades have been completed.
Grampians (Ballarat/Ararat line)
Completed projects
- The Dimboola rail footbridge has undergone a $600,000 upgrade to improve safety for pedestrians
- The introduction of Regional Fast Rail services to Ballarat was made possible following a comprehensive program of track and signalling works.
- More than 90 kilometres of track was upgraded to enable the return of rail services to Ararat in 2004. The works included new decking on several bridges and construction of a 575 metre rail connection from the former end of the broad gauge line to Ararat Station. See Bringing trains back to Victorians
- Safety at various level crossings has been improved; see Level crossing upgrades since 2003 for more details.
- Various Railway pedestrian crossing upgrades have been completed.
Loddon Mallee (Echuca/Swan Hill line)
Current and future projects
- The 2008-09 State Budget includes a $7.4 million allocation for safety improvements on the Bendigo rail corridor as part of a $254.5 million maintenance budget for country rail lines
- Level crossing upgrades are planned for Bendigo and Merbein.
Completed projects
- A $73 million upgrade of Mildura rail line for freight purposes was completed in August 2009. These works will secure the line's future as a freight corrdior for export grain and horticulture products from the state's north-west
- A $10 million package of works was completed in August 2006 to enable the return of rail services to Echuca. The works included replacing outdated sleepers and bridge and level crossing repairs.
- Regional Fast Rail project involved a massive program to replace tracks and install a state-of-the-art signalling system.
- Safety at various level crossings has been improved; see Level crossing upgrades since 2003 for more details.
- Various Railway pedestrian crossing upgrades have been completed.
Hume (Albury/Shepparton line)
Current and future projects
- A $4 million program to upgrade the Albury/Shepparton line is underway to improve train speeds. The works include major repairs to the Dry Creek Bridge at Kilmore East including replacing track and ballast on the bridge deck and structural improvements; sleeper maintenance on the outbound track between Donnybrook and Seymour; and concrete resleepering through Tallarook Station.
- The Wodonga rail bypass is a joint State and Federal Government project to improve the efficiency of freight and passenger rail on the main interstate line between Victoria and New South Wales. The project involves relocating the broad and standard gauge rail lines from the city’s central business area to a route parallel to the Hume Freeway.
- Level crossing upgrades are planned for Badaginnie, Euroa and Wangaratta.
Completed projects
Gippsland (Bairnsdale line)
Current and future projects
- Service reliability will improve for Gippsland train passengers as part of the Dandenong rail corridor project which includes additional rail infrastructure and upgraded signalling.
Completed projects