Preferred contractor announced for VIC Gippsland Line Upgrade

Victoria’s Gippsland Line Upgrade reaches a new milestone with the announcement of a preferred contractor to deliver major works between Pakenham and Traralgon. 

VicConnect has been named as preferred contractor for the project. The consortium is comprised of UGL Limited, Decmil and Arup. 

The contractor’s scope of works will include duplicating track, extending the Morwell crossing loop, upgrading level crossings and signalling as well as build second platforms at three stations along the Gippsland Line and reactivating the second platform at Traralgon. 

“We are pleased to build on our relationship with Rail Projects Victoria to deliver improved rail services on the Gippsland Line, benefitting the growing communities of Gippsland and creating jobs in the region,” CIMIC Group Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Juan Santamaria said. 

“UGL is a market leader in the delivery of rail and infrastructure across Australia and we have a long history of providing rail services in Victoria. We look forward to improving the rail services on the Gippsland Line,” UGL Managing Director Doug Moss said. 

Over the coming months, VicConnect will be undertaking early works. This includes site investigations, procurement, engineering and design. 

Works on the Gippsland Line Upgrade include: 

• Building a new rail bridge over the Avon River in Stratford (already completed ahead of schedule) 
• Second platforms and station amenity works at Bunyip, Longwarry, Morwell and Traralgon stations 
• Track duplication between Bunyip and Longwarry 
• Extension of Morwell crossing loop 
• Level crossing upgrades 
• Drainage structure upgrades along the line 
• Building a larger train stabling facility near Traralgon 

This project will also deliver the State’s first trial of solar-powered wireless level crossing detection technology at Farrells Lane in Stratford. 

According to Regional Rail Revival’s statement: “The new wireless technology has the potential to reduce the costs and environmental impacts of upgrading level crossings and could have positive outcomes on future rail projects across the state.” 

Once completed, the Gippsland Line Upgrade will enable 40-minute off-peak train frequency between Traralgon and Melbourne as well as provide more reliable train services along the Gippsland Line. 

“We expect this significant government investment in infrastructure will continue in order to stimulate the COVID-19 impacted economy.

“As a result, we have entered into a partnership with UGL to enhance our ability to capture further opportunities across a broad range of markets in the thriving infrastructure sector,” Decmil CEO Dickie Dique said

In addition, this project will create more than 400 jobs with Rail Projects Victoria establishing a local project office in the Latrobe Valley. The Gippsland Line Upgrade will also create opportunities for local social as well as Aboriginal contractors and suppliers, providing a much-needed boost to the local economy. 

The Gippsland Line Upgrade is due to be completed in late 2022.

Source: Regional Rail Revival (1, 2); UGL Limited; CIMIC Group; Decmil