VIC's North East Rail Line upgrade secures $235m in funding
Upgrading Victoria’s North East Rail Line is one step closer to commencing with the Federal Government signing off on a $235 million funding that will flow towards the project overseen by the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC).
With this project, V/Line services will be made more reliable, travels will be smoother for passengers and it will help reduce the cause of delays to train services.
“This investment is big news for the North East Victorian community as it will enable V/Line to introduce new, faster and more reliable ‘VLocity’ trains capable of speed of up to 130 kilometres per hour.
“It will do this by upgrading the line to achieve Victorian Class 2 performance standard, which will in turn improve the reliability and ride quality of passenger service along the lines,” Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack said.
Source: ARTC
Works covered by the North East Rail Line upgrade will include:
- Installation of two crossovers in the long section of track between Seymour and Benalla to improve track access for work crews, minimise disruption of the works. Crossovers will also allow greater flexibility with the way trains operate when running to a schedule, helping maintain their reliability
- Adding, replacing and compacting new railway ballast to provide a stable base for train operations by improving the track foundation and drainage
- Removal of mud holes where ballast has been contaminated by other materials so it no longer drains away water properly
- Resurfacing works, including packing and compacting more ballast in between the rail and sleepers
- Upgrading the track machinery (turnouts) that enable trains to be guided from one track to another
- Relocation of overhead signal wires to underground to decrease risk of signal failures to to trees falling on wires or line wire theft
- Installation of additional backup power supplies including solar in some locations to minimise signal outages due to power supply
- Drainage improvements by creating and reforming trackside drainage to ensure water flows away from tracks properly
- Grind rail tracks to remove flaws in the rail surface and reprofile the surface of the rail to create an even interface between the rail and train wheel
- Conversion of timber bridges to concrete ballasted bridges
- Improving transition points between ballasted track and level crossings
“This project is an extremely important investment in better-connecting the region and directly tackles the various causes of cancellations and delays such as track condition, signalling faults, passenger delays and rolling stock maintenance,” Mr McCormack said.
The North East Rail Line upgrade is part of the $1.57 billion commitment towards upgrading every regional Victorian Line.
Works on this project is expected to commence in early 2019 and completed by mid-2021.
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Source: Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development; Australian Rail Track Corporation
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