Work is now underway on the $160 million Geelong Line Upgrade to deliver more frequent and reliable services and making station facilities better for passengers in the region.
The project will deliver a second platform and additional track at Waurn Ponds, meaning trains can pass each other at this point of the line, which would allow more Geelong services to be extended to Waurn Ponds and boost reliability.
Waurn Ponds passengers are benefitting from more travel options since the new V/Line timetable started last month, following the extension of three existing weekday Geelong services.
Expressions of interest are now open for the Fast Rail Reference Group, which will work alongside technical advisers to get on with this project.
Local community members and key stakeholder organisations will play a vital role in shaping the project, with the first meeting set for next month, once the final local representatives and groups have been chosen. The group will be chaired by Member for Geelong, Christine Couzens.
Aurecon Jacobs Mott MacDonald Joint Venture (AJM JV) will also provide specialist advice to make this major rail investment a reality. The group consists of three companies chosen for their world-class rail expertise, who assisted the State Government in planning the Metro Tunnel after being appointed to an advisor role in 2015.
The State Government has provided $50 million for detailed investigations of fast rail infrastructure upgrades, costs and train requirements to deliver fast rail to Geelong as part of the Airport Rail Link.
Upgrades to both the Warrnambool and Geelong lines are already underway as part of the State Government’s $1.75 billion Regional Rail Revival, which is bringing better services to every major regional rail line and supporting more than 1,000 jobs.
