Victoria’s Regional Rail revival program has announced that major construction is now complete on the Ballarat Line Upgrade.
Crews worked more than 1.4 million hours on the half-a-billion dollar project over two years to upgrade Bacchus Marsh, Ballan and Wendouree stations, completely rebuild Rockbank Station and build a new station at Cobblebank.
The project also delivered 18km of duplicated track between Deer Park West and Melton, a new stabling facility at Maddingley, passing loops at Ballan and Millbrook, and signalling upgrades and track improvements along the line.
More than 45,000 sleepers and 135,000 tonnes of crushed rock were used for 32km of new rail, including building or realigning track through 13 level crossings.
Improved station facilities are up and running and two new peak weekday services have commenced between Melton and Southern Cross Station.
In 2020 there will be a period of commissioning for new station platforms and track, driver training and safety testing before new services are introduced on the line.
This will enable extra peak services and trains every 40 minutes off-peak, as well as better reliability for passengers.
