The Regional Rail Revival is a joint initiative between the Australian federal government and the Victorian state government to upgrade all regional railway lines in Victoria. The project has an estimated total cost of A$4 billion.[1]A$2.3 billion of the project's total cost is being funded by the Australian Government.[2] It was delivered by Rail Projects Victoria (RPV) until April 2024, and then by the Level Crossing Removal Project.[3] The project is guided by the 2016 Regional Network Development Plan, which outlines the short, medium and long-term priorities for a modernised regional rail network.[4]
Projects
Regional Rail Revival is made up of multiple projects:[5]
26 August 2019 – Construction at Rockbank Station finishes, and the station is opened up to the public.[19]
20 November 2019 – Construction of the new Avon River railbridge in Stratford commences.[20]
1 December 2019– New station at Toolern, named Cobblebank, opens to public.[21]
6 December 2019 – Construction begins on stabling facility at Ararat.[22]
28 January 2020 – Construction begins on the upgrade of four level crossings on the Warrnambool Line.[23]
23 April 2020 – Donnybrook Station Upgrade completed, with addition of 150 new car parking spaces, new platform shelters and the city bound platform extended, improved pedestrian access, improved security with CCTV and lighting on platforms and in the car park.[24]
24 April 2020 – Works completed on four new level crossing boom gates along the Warrnambool Line.[25]
13 May 2023 - Construction of the new Waurn Ponds stabling facility finishes, allowing an additional 31 services per week on the Geelong Line.[31]
26 August 2024 - Duplication of the Geelong line between Warun Ponds and South Geelong completed, with second platforms at Marshall and South Geelong stations. The level crossings at Fyans Street and Surf Coast Highway were also removed and replaced with rail bridges.[32][33]
Regional Rail Link project – a prior project to separate regional V/Line services from the electrified Melbourne suburban services
References
^"Regional Rail Revival Package". Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications. Archived from the original on 19 January 2022. Retrieved 3 February 2022.