Part one of the $356 million Shepparton Line Upgrade has begun, with construction starting on the stabling upgrade in late October.
Works include upgrading the signalling and tracks, building safer access for train crew and improving lighting to assist train inspections.
These upgrades will allow an additional passenger train to be stabled overnight at the station, making it possible for an extra daily return train service between Shepparton and Melbourne to be introduced in early 2019.
Construction will continue until the end of the year and is being delivered by V/Line on behalf of Rail Projects Victoria (RPV).
Stage one of the Shepparton Corridor Upgrade also funded the addition of 29 coach services per week between Shepparton and Seymour to fill gaps in the timetable and give passengers more choice on when to travel.
The Victorian Government announced an additional $313 million for stage two of the Shepparton Corridor Upgrade in the 2018/19 Victorian Budget, for faster and more frequent services for passengers.
Stage two of the project will transform the line between Seymour and Shepparton, with upgrades to level crossings, signalling and track, as well as platform extensions and a new stabling facility enabling faster VLocity trains to run on the line for the first time.
The Victorian Government is also progressing the business case to finalise the scope and costs for stage three of the project, which will deliver nine return services per day between Shepparton and Melbourne. The delivery timelines for both stages two and three will be confirmed towards the end of 2018.
Early works have also started on a new waiting room at Shepparton Station, under the government’s Road and Rail Minor Works Program. The waiting room and modernised customer service area will provide a safe and weatherproof place to wait for the growing number of people using the train and coach services at the station.
The Shepparton Corridor Upgrade is funded by the Victorian Government as part of the $1.75 billion Regional Rail Revival, which will upgrade every regional passenger train line in Victoria, creating more than 1000 jobs.
Victorian Minister for Public Transport, Jacinta Allan, said, “Shepparton passengers have more to look forward to, with these works just the first step in a $356 million investment to bring faster and more frequent services to the line.”
