Residents and visitors to Melbourne, Bendigo and surrounds will benefit from the construction of three new train stations, with plans to upgrade the Bendigo line underway, under a re-elected Andrews Labor Government.
Bendigo is one of Victoria’s fastest growing regional cities and locals need more trains and more reliable services.
The $49.6 million project is the next stage of Bendigo Metro, which will include new train stations at Goornong, Raywood and Huntly. The single platform stations will have car parking and covered waiting areas with seating.
Work on the new Goornong Station will start next year and finish by 2021. Construction of the new Raywood Station will start in 2020 and finish by 2022, followed by construction of the Huntly Station starting in 2022 and finishing by 2023. The whole project will create up to 150 jobs.
Central Victorians will also be big winners from the new Suburban Rail Loop – an underground rail network that will circle Melbourne and connect to every major regional train line. The project will mean Bendigo line passengers won’t have to travel through Melbourne to access world-class education and health services, with Melburnians also set to have easier access to all Bendigo and the Macedon Ranges has to offer.
Regional rail users from Central Victoria will also be one stop away from Melbourne Airport via a regional super hub in Sunshine.
A re-elected Labor Government will also start planning to reopen Harcourt Station and upgrade track on the Bendigo line between Bendigo and Kyneton to allow trains every 40 minutes during off peak times.
