Trains are still on track

GROWTH IN SHEPPARTON NEEDS BETTER RAIL ACCESS... CEO of the Committee for Greater Shepparton, Sam Birrell. Photo: Steve Hutcheson
GROWTH IN SHEPPARTON NEEDS BETTER RAIL ACCESS… CEO of the Committee for Greater Shepparton, Sam Birrell. Photo: Steve Hutcheson

Over the next several months, we are likely to see an improved rail commute service to Melbourne begin to take shape.  VLine are currently undertaking the contracting for Stage 2 infrastructure work on level crossings as well as some stations.

The contractor will build platform extensions, stabling to suit VLocity trains, up to 59 level crossing upgrades and an extension of a crossing loop to allow VLocity trains to run on the line for the first time.

Two consortia have been shortlisted to deliver these critical upgrades:

  • VicConnect, comprising UGL Limited, Decmil and Arup
  • A joint venture between Coleman Rail and KBR

Rail Projects Victoria (RPV) is expected to appoint a contractor to deliver these improvements in the coming months, with construction due to begin late this year and finish in late 2022.

The Victorian Government has invested $356 million in the first two stages of the Shepparton Line Upgrade.

In delivering Stage 1 to provide passengers with additional services as soon as possible, an extra 10 weekly services were introduced on the Shepparton Line in April 2019, almost a year ahead of schedule.

Stage 2 of the project will provide the infrastructure required for modern VLocity trains to run to Shepparton for the first time, improving service reliability and providing passengers with more comfortable journeys.

A team of dedicated rail specialists at RPV is continuing its detailed analysis to identify the additional upgrades required to support nine return services a day between Shepparton and Melbourne.

Sam Birrell, the CEO of Committee for Greater Shepparton recently pointed out in an article in The Age, that increased service to the Melbourne is not a reality for people living in regional cities. “People don’t all want to work in Melbourne, they want access to it. We have new industries burgeoning in the regions and a need for many more professional workers here,“ Sam said.

At the same time, the Federal Government is discussing the need to expand on an inland rail service between Queensland and Victoria and how that might impact on future development along the way with much of the current road transport being shifted across to rail. Shepparton has not been included in the inland rail line project however,  with the increased development taking place in the region, commercial rail transport may well become a necessity as other probable aspects such as increased road traffic, carbon taxes, increased freight costs and the like come into play.