Passengers will have access to more reliable and faster journeys, when the brand-new Goornong Station opens next month.
The new station is the first of three new stations being funded by the Andrews Labor Government, as part of the Bendigo and Echuca Line Upgrade. It includes a new single-sided platform, seating and shelter, bike hoops, a car park with lighting and CCTV, as well as a pedestrian crossing on the Midland Highway to improve local access.
Track upgrades will allow trains to travel from 80km/h up to 130km/h between Epsom and the new Goornong Station, enabling people to get where they need to go sooner. Crews have already replaced more than 20,000 ageing wooden sleepers with concrete sleepers and added more than 50,000 tonnes of new ballast along the track, with the works set for completion ahead of the stations opening.
Trains will begin travelling to and from the new Goornong station from Sunday 12 December, as a revised timetable comes into effect for the month. The station will run 18 weekly services - with two daily services on weekdays and four daily services on weekends.
Works on the Bendigo and Echuca Line Upgrade continue, with the delivery of Huntly station targeted for completion in mid-2022, and Raywood Station to follow late next year.
The Labor Government has invested $49.6 million in Bendigo Metro 3 to give people in these growing communities access to train services close to where they live.
The new stations are being delivered by Rail Projects Victoria as part of the Bendigo and Echuca Line Upgrade, funded by both the Victorian and Commonwealth Governments. When the Bendigo and Echuca Line Upgrade is complete, it will deliver two new weekday return services to Echuca, tripling the number of services on the line.
The revised December timetable is available online at: ptv.vic.gov.au.
As stated by Minister for Transport Infrastructure and Member for Bendigo East Jacinta Allan
"The new Goornong station is one step closer to giving passengers more reliable journeys - and it's fantastic to see that trains will once again be able to stop here."
"We promised to deliver these new stations and we're getting on with it - delivering better access to our transport network to give passengers more choice about where they live, work and spend time with those they love."
As stated by Minister for Public Transport Ben Carroll
"We are building a better public transport network for all Victorians and this project will deliver service improvements for Bendigo and Echuca Line passengers."
As stated by Member for Bendigo West Maree Edwards
"This is great news for Bendigo - more stations give more options for locals to use public transport and delivers a massive boost to our local economy."
