Bendigo line trains will be off the tracks next month as some 700 workers blitz level crossing removals and other upgrades to the northern rail corridor.
Buses will replace trains between Sunbury and Sunshine, and the Bendigo line will close completely from October 4 to 30.
Two dangerous and congested level crossings at Main Road and Furlong Road at St Albans will be removed, while the existing Ginifer and St Albans station buildings, earmarked for demolition, will make way for new stations.
In conjunction with the level crossing removals, V/Line has scheduled more than $46 million of upgrades to the Bendigo, Swan Hill and Echuca lines to minimise disruptions to rail travel.
Sunbury MP Josh Bull said crews will remove mud holes and replace older signalling infrastructure as part of more than $360,000 allocated for this aspect of line upgrades.
“Our community depends on reliable train services, and these improvement works will help us run more trains, more often,” Mr Bull said. “We know these works will be frustrating for passengers, but we need to upgrade our tracks to ensure passengers can get where they need to go safer and sooner.”
Other works include upgrades to classic Victorian railway infrastructure, such as the Taradale viaduct, Malmsbury viaduct and the Elphinstone tunnel.
A temporary timetable is available at staffed Metro and V/Line stations.Passengers are urged to allow an extra hour travel time.
Details: www.vline.com.au
