1 August 2022

  • Over $1 billion for rail upgrades between South Geelong and Waurn Ponds
  • Creating 1,300+ jobs
  • 5 train services per hour during the peaks, and 3 per hour between the peaks

Better connections

We’re upgrading sections of the walking and cycling route between South Geelong and Waurn Ponds to provide safer journeys, improved access to the local area and better active transport options for the community.

More than 5km of new shared user paths will create a continuous connection between South Geelong and Waurn Ponds Stations for the first time.

Additional parkiteers and bike hoops will be delivered at South Geelong and Marshall stations.

These upgrades will promote physical activity within the community and provide safer off-road travel options with wide paths and crossings over major intersections. It will also create an active travel corridor into the Geelong CBD facilitating safe-walking and cycling connections for the growing communities to the South.

South Geelong to Waurn Ponds Duplication

The South Geelong to Waurn Ponds Duplication includes upgraded stations at Marshall and South Geelong, new rail bridges at Fyans Street and Surf Coast Highway and duplicated track and signalling.

Once completed, passengers will benefit from five train services per hour during the peaks and three per hour between the peaks for Marshall and Waurn Ponds stations, new public open space and a new shared user path.

concept image of the shared user path along Surf Coast Highway. This image depicts two pedestrians walking along a shared user path in the foreground. Cars travelling along the road on Surf Coast Highway and a V/Line Train travelling along the elevated rail bridge over Surf Coast Highway in the background.

New shared user path

  • 5km of new shared user path connections
  • 150 new bike hoops installed at South Geelong and Marshall stations
  • 3 new parkiteers installed at South Geelong and Marshall stations

As part of the South Geelong to Waurn Ponds Duplication, we’re creating 5km of new shared user paths for the community to enjoy.
The new shared user paths follow the rail line, improving connections to public transport, existing rail trails and new green open space.

New sections of shared user path will be delivered along the length of Carr Street, between Breakwater Road and Gundog Lane, along Station Road to Marshall Station and from Marshall Station through to Reserve Road, connecting to the Baanip Boulevard path at the Surf Coast Highway level crossing and to the new shared user path along Barwon Heads Road being delivered by Major Road Projects Victoria.

The new paths will create a continuous connection between South Geelong and Waurn Ponds, connecting to Waurn Ponds Station via the new Baanip Boulevard path, delivered as part of the Waurn Ponds Station upgrade.

Map of shared walking and cycling paths.

concept render showing an aerial perspective of Fyans Street from Carr Street. The right-hand side of this image shows the elevated rail bridge over Fyans Street with a V/Line Train travelling on it. The centre of the image shows the shared user path along Carr Street with pedestrians walking along the path. The left-hand side of the image shows a car travelling along Carr Street.

The new shared user path will celebrate the local area

The shared user path will celebrate and enhance the local area through landscaping, signage, public artworks and rest and reflection areas

High quality public art and creative design outcomes, delivered as part of the South Geelong to Waurn Ponds Duplication, will enhance people’s experience of journey and place and leave a positive legacy for communities across Geelong.

Our Creative Strategy provides guidance on commissioning creative works which supports working with local artists and cultural organisations, engages local communities and celebrates the creative culture of Victoria’s First Peoples.

Creative opportunities along the trail include cultural wayfinding, heritage signage and artworks to educate and inform travellers and create a more enjoyable journey.

We are working closely with Wadawarrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation to understand and respectfully acknowledge culturally significant locations along the trail.

We will seek feedback from the community on themes for public artworks that celebrate the local area.

Local artists will be invited to express interest in developing artworks to be integrated into the creative strategy for the shared user path.

Rest stops will be included along the shared user path to allow users an opportunity to stop and enjoy their surroundings.

concept render of South Geelong Station. This image features the station forecourt area, with people walking along the forecourt area and cyclists travelling along the bike path. The Kardinia Park also known as GMHBA Stadium is featured in the distant background.

Landscaping and revegetation

Two trees will be planted for every one removed during construction of the project.

Native trees and plants will make up a large number of these trees to enhance the local area and improve biodiversity along the rail corridor.

We are currently engaging with Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation and City of Greater Geelong on the types of plant species and trees to be planted.

Local stakeholders and the community will be given the opportunity to provide feedback and input into the landscaping plans for the area.

What’s happening now

The Djilang Alliance, comprising McConnell Dowell, Downer, Arup and WSP, will deliver the South Geelong to Waurn Ponds Duplication project.

Early works have begun, including the relocation and upgrade of a number of Barwon Water pipelines, which will allow key sections of the track to be duplicated between South Geelong and Waurn Ponds.

We are working closely with the City of Greater Geelong and Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation on the urban design, new public open spaces and creative opportunities associated with the project.

The feedback from the community will continue to inform the final design and creative and urban design opportunities.

We will continue to engage the community to ensure the project reflects the character or the area and we leaves a legacy for the community.

Major construction is scheduled to commence later this year and is targeted for completion in late 2024.

Project timeline

2022 - Contract award, consultation and construction underway

  • Engagement with the community continues.
  • Early works underway with major construction to begin in late 2022.

2024 - Construction complete

  • Major construction targeted for completion in 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 completed 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.

Return to the Geelong Line Upgrade homepage