Victoria Minister for Public Transport Jacinta Allan

Half A Billion Dollar Gippsland Line Upgrade Kicks Off

Victor P Taffa

Work has begun on the $530 Million Gippsland Line Upgrade, which will deliver more frequent, reliable train services for passengers in Victoria’s east.

Minister for Public Transport Jacinta Allan today joined Member for Eastern Victoria Harriet Shing at the Avon River rail bridge in Stratford, where important geotechnical and site investigations are being carried out.

“We’re getting things done delivering the upgrades we need to run new trains and boost services to Gippsland.” Minister for Public Transport Jacinta Allan said.

“This is the next step in our Regional Rail Revival which will boost services, jobs and communities across the state.”

Over the coming months, crews will drill over 50 boreholes and 120 test pits near the bridge and in various locations along the Gippsland line, to better understand ground conditions and soil quality.

Additional Railway Station Platforms

Information gathered will inform the design and construction of the project, which includes level crossing upgrades and track duplication to untangle bottlenecks and deliver more reliable and frequent train services.

Gippsland Line Upgrade project will also build additional platforms at:

• Bunyip,
• Longwarry,
• Morwell,
• Traralgon.

Replacing the Avon River Bridge will remove the 10 km/h speed limit in this section of track, improving journey times for passengers.

As planning and environmental approvals are likely to take some time, the scope of the project has been expanded to include upgrades to level crossings between Bairnsdale and Sale. This will allow the lighter VLocity trains to run on the Bairnsdale line for the first time to prolong the life of the Avon River Bridge.

“It’s a huge relief for Gippslanders to see work beginning on this vital project, which will progress the long-awaited transformation of train services to communities along the Gippsland line.” Member for Eastern Victoria Harriet Shing said.

“Locals are thoroughly sick of regional rail funding being withheld while the Commonwealth pours more money into New South Wales and Queensland. We’re determined to make sure they pay their debts to Victoria, and we’re delivering as many improvements on the line as we can while we wait.”

Line Upgrade project will establish a main site office in Gippsland boosting the local economy and creating hundreds of jobs and opportunities for local suppliers.

Gippsland Line Upgrade is part of the $1.57 Billion Regional Rail Revival (RRR) package a joint initiative of the Victorian and Federal governments that will upgrade every regional passenger line in Victoria.

Despite intense negotiations, the Commonwealth Government is yet to release funding for these works.

Gippsland Rail Corridor Station Upgrade Program

State Government’s $9 Million Gippsland Rail Corridor Station Upgrade Program, will deliver accessibility, safety and car parking improvements at

• Traralgon,
• Moe,
• Trafalgar,
• Morwell.