Work will continue on the Warrnambool, Geelong, Gippsland and Shepparton rail lines, and 2 level crossing removal projects will be complete, as Victoria’s Big Build continues across regional Victoria over November and December.
Coaches will replace trains between Geelong and Warrnambool for nearly a month from Saturday 5 November, to commission signalling upgrades between Warncoort and Warrnambool as part of Stage 1 of the Warrnambool Line Upgrade.
When complete, the upgrades will deliver a fifth weekday return service between Warrnambool and Melbourne, giving passengers more choice on when to travel.
Major construction will also begin this November on the South Geelong to Waurn Ponds Duplication, to deliver more frequent and reliable services for passengers on Victoria’s busiest regional rail line.
As part of the Gippsland Line Upgrade, coaches will replace trains from Southern Cross to Traralgon and Bairnsdale from Friday 5 November until Sunday 13 November.
The project will enable extra services to travel between Traralgon and Melbourne between the peaks. Second platforms at key stations will allow more opportunities for trains to pass each other.
Also on the Gippsland Line, coaches will replace trains from Southern Cross to Traralgon and Bairnsdale over the first weekend of December as part of level crossing removal works.
On the Shepparton Line, level crossing upgrade works will take place between Mangalore and Wahring and signalling works will progress at Murchison East on the weekend of 3 and 4 December. Coaches will replace regional trains between Seymour and Shepparton during this time.
The level crossings at Robinsons Road and Fitzgerald Road on the Geelong and Ballarat lines were removed earlier this year, making the lines safer, and the boom gates and other rail infrastructure will be removed over 2 days next month, marking the project’s completion.
To allow for the work, coaches will replace Ballarat trains from Southern Cross to Melton from 10pm on Friday, 9 December to the last service on Sunday, 11 December. Warrnambool and Geelong trains will be replaced by coaches on part of the line during this time.
People heading into Melbourne are advised of significant delays to traffic and trams on St Kilda Road from late November to mid-December, ahead of the new Anzac Station tram stop opening next month as part of the Metro Tunnel.
Victorians are asked to allow extra time and plan their journey by checking the PTV or VicTraffic apps before they travel.
For more information about planned disruptions over coming months visit the Victoria's Big Build disruption map.