The people of Goornong will get an early Christmas gift, with trains to begin stopping at the new station from next month.
Echuca Line trains will begin travelling to and from the new Goornong Station from Sunday 12 December, with 18 weekly services comprised of 2 daily services on weekdays and 4 daily services on Saturdays and Sundays.
The brand-new station includes a single-sided platform, lighting, seating and shelter, a new car park with lighting and CCTV, bike hoops and a new pedestrian crossing on the Midland Highway to provide access to the station for locals.
Trains will begin travelling at higher speeds between Epsom and the new station after the timetable change, thanks to track upgrades to increase the maximum speed of trains from 80km/h to 130km/h.
Crews have already replaced more than 20,000 ageing wooden sleepers with concrete sleepers, and added more than 50,000 tonnes of new ballast along the track.
The new Goornong Station is the first of 3 new stations being delivered by the Victorian Government, with work also underway on a new Huntly Station, which is targeted for completion in mid-2022.
Raywood Station on the Swan Hill Line is targeted for completion in late 2022.
There will be minor journey time improvements between Bendigo and Echuca as part of the December timetable change.
The new Victorian Government-funded stations are being delivered as part of the Bendigo and Echuca Line Upgrade, which also includes a new electronic train order system to deliver more services for Epsom, Eaglehawk, Goornong, Huntly, and Echuca, targeted for completion in late 2022.
Learn more about the Bendigo and Echuca Line Upgrade.