Minister for Public Transport and Member for Polwarth Terry Mulder has announced that up to 80,000 sleepers between Geelong and Warrnambool will be replaced as part of a $25 million program of V/Line works in Victoria.
Mr Mulder said the work was a significant investment into the region.
“This is the first time since 1993 that this amount of investment has been made into guaranteeing the long term future and viability of the Warrnambool line for freight and passenger trains,” he said.
The project, to begin from Wednesday, 23 February in the Geelong area will involve renewing 16 level crossings, structural works at rail bridges and general maintenance works at stations on the line.
V/Line Western Region Manager Peter Gibson said about every one in four sleepers would be replaced with timber between Marshall and Warrnambool.
Sections between Warrnambool and Sherwood Park, level crossings, and station pits including Camperdown will be replaced with concrete.
Between Wednesday, 23 February and Monday, 28 February (inclusive) buses will replace trains between Geelong and Warrnambool.
Mr Gibson said during the works some trains could be partly or wholly replaced with buses.
“Some trains will be replaced with buses during the work, which is expected to be completed by September,” Mr Gibson said.
Following the completion of works in the Geelong area on Monday, 28 February, V/Line crews will move to the Warrnambool end of the line to begin re-sleepering.
As a guide V/Line crews will be working in the following areas, between the following dates:
• Dennington to Warrnambool (8 March to 17 March)
• Warrnambool Terang (22 March to 3 May)
• Terang to Camperdown (4 May to 18 May)
• Camperdown to Colac (19 May to 18 June)
• Colac to Marshall (19 June to 30 July).
Train disruptions will be posted to vline.com.au/geelongline as they become available.
Work will take place mostly during the day to minimise noise to local landowners, and for safety of V/Line employees.
Several level crossings will be resurfaced and vegetation will be trimmed to improve visibility between motorists and V/Line trains.
“Regular updates of works will be posted at vline.com.au along with any bus replacements,” Mr Gibson said.
“People should visit the site regularly, and before travel to check if their train is to run as scheduled.”
