Gippsland communities can look forward to better train services, with the Gippsland Line Upgrade set for completion after a major construction blitz this winter and new services to follow.
The Victorian Budget 2025/26 includes funding to deliver services every 40 minutes along the Traralgon Line, which will be made possible by the completion of the project.
The project is delivering a new train control system, updating the line’s infrastructure to ensure trains can safely run more often, and more reliably.
Due to Gippsland Line Upgrade works, as well as Victoria’s Big Build works impacting the metropolitan section of the network, coaches will replace trains on the Traralgon and Bairnsdale lines for part or all of the journey from Saturday 14 June until Wednesday 13 August.
Works to complete and commission the line’s new signalling system and complete the Gippsland Line Upgrade will take place during this time.
Crews will carry out signalling construction along the line, including cabling and installing trackside signalling equipment between Drouin and Traralgon needed to complete the new signalling system which will enable more frequent services on the line.
Works will also include safety testing of new infrastructure along the 70km stretch of rail line, driver training, and the complex commissioning work needed to bring the new system into operation and enable trains to use the new platforms at Morwell and Traralgon stations and safely operate more often.
This is part of the Victorian and Australian governments’ investment in the Gippsland Line Upgrade, which has upgraded stations, duplicated track to make services more reliable, delivered a new bridge over the Avon River in Stratford and enabled modern and accessible VLocity trains to travel to Bairnsdale.
The Department of Transport and Planning is developing a new timetable for the Gippsland Line, with further information on timing for the new services to come.