John Holland appointed to deliver VIC Bendigo & Echuca Line Upgrade

Major construction is scheduled to commence soon on the $176.2 million Bendigo and Echuca Line Upgrade in Victoria following the appointment of John Holland to deliver the track upgrades. 

The track upgrades are going to get underway as part of a construction blitz in September and October of this year. Works are also expected to commence on the new stations at Goornong and Huntly while trains are not in service. 

“The people in these communities have told us how important these new stations are to them and the future of their towns, so it’s great to see construction getting underway. 

“By doing these station works alongside these vital track upgrades, we're reducing the need for future disruptions on the line and making life easier for passengers as we deliver these massive benefits,” Minister for Transport Infrastructure Jacinta Allan said. 

By upgrading the track, it will allow trains to travel up to 130 km/h between Epsom and the new station at Goornong and getting people to where the need to go faster. 

The upgrades will also enable trains to travel faster between the major regional centres of Bendigo and Echuca. 

“These upgrades are all about bringing communities between closer together and strengthening the regional economy. 

“John Holland has been appointed to deliver the track upgrades, which include replacing more than 20,000 sleepers, new ballast, drainage improvements, rail bridge upgrades, mud-hole removal and level crossing modifications to boost safety,” Federal Member for Nicholls Damian Drum said. 

Project scope (source: Victoria's Big Build)

The Bendigo and Echuca Line Upgrade project will include: 

• New stations at Goornong, Huntly and Raywood 
• A modernised electronic train order (ETO) system 
• Improvements to train detection technology at 10 level crossings between Bendigo and Eaglehawk 
• Track upgrades between Epsom and Echuca 
• A business case for track upgrades between Bendigo and Kyneton to deliver trains every 40 minutes in the off-peak 
• A planning study for the reopening of a station in Harcourt 

“The $176.2 million Bendigo and Echuca Line Upgrade is part of a broader investment in Regional Rail Revival that is upgrading every regional passenger rail line in the state and creating 3,000 jobs. 

“Our commitment to Regional Rail Revival is part of our record $110 billion infrastructure investment pipeline, which is helping secure our economic recovery and keeping Australians safe and secure,” Senator for Victoria Sarah Henderson said. 

While works are ongoing on the project, coaches will be replacing trains on the Echuca Line between Bendigo and Echuca from 1st September to the end of October, while trains will continue running between Bendigo and Epsom for local passengers. 

Delivery of new ballast and concrete sleepers have already commenced ahead of the scheduled track works. 

On the other hand, critical works such as track alignment and platform construction will be getting underway at the new Goornong and Huntly stations. 

The new Goornong Station is projected to be completed by the end of 2021, while the new Huntly Station to be completed in mid-2022. The Raywood Station on the Swan Hill Line is due to be completed at the end of 2022. 

V/Line will undertaking the development of the new electronic train order (ETO) as part of the upgrade. The new ETO will allow for additional weekday return services to both Epsom and Eaglehawk as well as triple the number of weekday train services to and from Echuca once the project is completed in late 2022. 

The Bendigo and Echuca Line Upgrade is jointly funded by the Australian and Victorian Governments, with the former committing $158.7 million. 

Source: Premier of Victoria – Media Centre; Victoria’s Big Build (1, 2); Australia New Zealand Infrastructure Pipeline