The Victorian Government has announced the authority that will oversee the delivery of the $518 million Ballarat train line upgrade.
Victorian Minister for Public Transport, Jacinta Allan, announced that a dedicated project team within the Melbourne Metro Rail Authority (MMRA) will oversee the project.
The Victorian Government’s Ballarat line upgrade will duplicate a three kilometre section of single track west of Warrenheip, build new crossing loops, and create a new train stabling to support more frequent, reliable services through Melbourne’s west and communities along the Ballarat line.
The upgrade will also build second platforms at Bacchus Marsh and Ballan stations, in addition to an extension of the existing platforms at Rockbank Station to allow passengers to use each carriage to get on or off the train.
Member for Wendouree, Sharon Knight, said, “This is wonderful news for the Ballarat Line Upgrade, which will deliver more frequent, reliable trains – building on the new carriages and services we’ve already delivered for Ballarat commuters.”
The MMRA are also overseeing the delivery of Australia’s biggest public transport project, the Metro Tunnel.
Member for Buninyong, Geoff Howard, said, “MMRA has the experience and expertise to deliver these projects and more frequent, reliable trains to Bacchus Marsh, Ballan and Ballarat.”
MMRA is well placed to deliver the Metro Tunnel project, which includes duplication of the line between Deer Park and Melton to run to more frequent and reliable services to Melbourne’s outer western suburbs, Melton, Bacchus Marsh, Ballan and Ballarat.
The duplication from Deer Park will enable future electrification of the line to Melton – creating a new metropolitan train line into the city.
Currently, there is no space on the metropolitan network to run more trains. The Metro Tunnel will create space in the city loop to run more services more often, and a duplicated line will allow for extra services from Deer Park to Melton.
Together, these projects will make electrification to Melton possible, which is why the MMRA were chosen to deliver them both.
“You can’t electrify to Melton and run more services to the western suburbs and regions without building the Metro Tunnel and duplicating the line – that’s why we’re not wasting a minute and getting it done,” Ms Allan said.
