$551.7 million Ballarat Line Upgrade contracts signed

This week, contracts were signed by a consortium comprised of Lendlease, Coleman Rail and SMEC Australia to deliver the Ballarat Line Upgrade.

A second platform and new tracks will be built at Wendouree as part of the $551.7 million Ballarat Line Upgrade.

This will create enough space for trains to pass each other at Wendouree station for the first time, fixing the current problem that sees delayed services from Melbourne terminate at Ballarat and passengers forced onto replacement buses because trains can’t pass each other beyond Ballarat.

The upgraded Wendouree station will also include a new accessible pedestrian link between the new and existing platform, and upgrades to security, lighting and signage.

An extra three kilometres of track between Bacchus Marsh station and Rowsley Station Road in Maddingley has also been added to the project, allowing trains to move in and out of the nearby stabling facilities more quickly.

This refinement removes the need to duplicate track at Warrenheip and means less tree removal and excavation.

The change also includes a new train station at Toolern to service Melbourne’s booming outer-western suburbs.

The upgrade is part of the $1.57 billion Regional Rail Revival, funded by the Australian and Victorian governments.

Construction is now underway to deliver more frequent and reliable services to regional passengers and give regional Victoria the infrastructure it needs as it continues to grow. The major upgrade of Wendouree Station in Ballarat to be complete by 2019.

The Melbourne Metro Rail Authority, currently overseeing the Metro Tunnel and Ballarat Line Upgrade, will lead delivery of the Regional Rail Revival program, which includes upgrades to every regional passenger line in Victoria.

Construction contractors and suppliers can register their interest in working on the Regional Rail Revival projects by visiting ballaratlineupgrade.vic.gov.au.