The South Geelong to Waurn Ponds Duplication project will deliver more frequent and reliable services and better stations for passengers on Victoria’s busiest regional rail line.

We are removing the dangerous and congested level crossing at Surf Coast Highway and replacing it with a new elevated rail bridge which will improve traffic flow and boost safety for road users.

As with any project of this scale, temporary construction impacts and disruptions will occur.

We aim to minimise impacts to passengers, residents and businesses wherever possible and will notify well in advance of works occurring.

We will undertake a staged approach to constructing the project, so that we can carry out works safely and minimise disruption as much as possible.

Removing the Surf Coast Highway level crossing

1. Relocation of services and construction of temporary highway alignment- We will relocate underground and overhead services such as gas, water and electricity on both sides of the rail line. Some vegetation removal will also be required.
2. Installing the viaduct beams- A total of 16 bridge beams will be installed. To ensure safety of construction crews and the community, some traffic management and road closures may be required.
3. Building the substructure- Six pile caps, six piers and two bridge abutments will be built to support the future bridge beams. We will then install precast headstocks, which are structures that support the bridge beams.
4. Constructing the foundations- 48 concrete piles will be installed in the ground to support the concrete piers. A piling rig will bore holes in the ground. Steel cages are then lowered into the holes and filled with concrete.
5. Laying the rail track- Ballast and sleepers will be installed on the new bridge, and rail laid on top. The top ballast is added before tamping and regulating of the new rail and ballast is completed.
6. Creating the finishing touches- Landscaping, creative treatments and the installation of public artworks will take place once the rail track has been laid on the bridge.
7. Commissioning- Commissioning of the new duplicated track is required to integrate the new infrastructure into the rail network to enable additional services to run on the line.
8. Surf Coast Highway level crossing removed late 2024

Upgrading the Geelong Line

The Victorian and Australian governments are investing more than a billion dollars in projects to deliver better and more frequent services for communities between South Geelong and Waurn Ponds. This includes the South Geelong to Waurn Ponds Duplication, Waurn Ponds stabling and the recently complete Waurn Ponds Station upgrade.

The South Geelong to Waurn Ponds Duplication project will enable more frequent and reliable services and better stations for passengers on Victoria’s busiest regional
rail line.

The project is part of the Regional Rail Revival program which is upgrading every regional passenger line in Victoria and creating 3,000 jobs. Regional Rail Revival is delivering the project on behalf of the Australian and Victorian governments.

Both governments have also invested in Geelong Fast Rail, to deliver faster services between Geelong and Melbourne.