The Albanese and Allan Labor governments are forging ahead with a winter construction blitz in Victoria's southwest to ease congestion and deliver safer journeys.
Major construction on the South Geelong to Waurn Ponds Duplication - including two rebuilt stations and removal of two congested level crossings - is anticipated to be finished in late 2024.
From Saturday 15 June until Sunday 25 August coaches will replace trains between Geelong and Warrnambool.
This will allow more than 1,000 workers to finish upgrades to Marshall and South Geelong stations including more than eight kilometres of track duplication and the removal of the two level crossings.
These upgrades will deliver safer and more accessible stations for the booming communities south of Geelong, and reduce congestion for the thousands of motorists travelling on Fyans Street and Surf Coast Highway each day.
In order to remove the congested level crossings, the Fyans Street roundabout will be closed from Wednesday 12 June until Monday 26 August, as crews move the 2,000-tonne rail bridge into place and realign the intersection under the rail bridge.
The Surf Coast Highway will also be closed at the level crossing in late July to remove the level crossing and complete road resurfacing.
There will be additional level crossing closures between South Geelong and Grovedale to allow track duplication to take pace, with closures planned for Yarra Street, Swanston Street, Barwon Terrace, Reserve Road and Marshalltown Road later in winter, with further announcements on relevant timing to come.
Upgrades to train detection technology at the last of 53 public level crossings on the Warrnambool Line will also be completed while trains aren't running, enabling the introduction of modern and accessible VLocity trains. Axle counters are being installed at these level crossings, along with boom gates, bells and flashing lights at 16 of these crossings making them compatible with VLocity trains as part of Stage 2 of the Warrnambool Line Upgrade.
The Australian Government has committed close to $785 million to the $933.6 million project with the Victorian Government contributing the remaining $149.5 million.
This includes an additional Australian Government commitment of $34.1 million in the recent Federal Budget.
