South Geelong to Waurn Ponds Duplication

Project Description

Between Melbourne and Geelong, the rail line is duplicated allowing trains to operate and pass each other independently. However, between Geelong and Warrnambool, the rail line is mostly single track with a limited number of passing loops. Since 2003-04, patronage on the Geelong rail line has increased by 242 per cent and is expected to double by 2025-26. Additional services cannot be provided to South Geelong and Waurn Ponds without duplicating the track.

The project will upgrade the Geelong rail line between South Geelong and Waurn Ponds. Works will include:

• Duplication of approximately eight kilometres of track between South Geelong and Waurn Ponds stations
• Upgrades to South Geelong and Marshall stations
• Removal of two level crossings at Fyans Street and Surf Coast Highway,
• Various signalling upgrades, and
• Construction of approximately five kilometres of shared user paths.

Benefits

The project is expected to:

• improve passenger rail services
• increase transport infrastructure capacity
• improve connectivity between people, jobs and services, and goods with markets

Funding

In the 2019-20 Budget the Australian Government committed $700 million towards this project.

This projects builds on the $50 million allocated to the project at the 2018-19 Budget.

Timetable

Planning for the project in underway. Project expected to begin early works construction in late 2022, major construction expected to commence in 2023. Project scheduled to reach practical completion in late 2024.