The Seymour line will have up to 52,000 sleepers replaced as part of a multimillion dollar program of works during 2012 Minister for Public Transport Terry Mulder announced today.
The series of projects, to begin from April 6, will involve the replacement of track and superstructures on 10 bridges, replacing track over four major bridges, repairing of mud holes, a new bridge between Wallan and Kilmore East, and platform works at Donnybrook, Wallan, and Broadford.
The Platform works include the replacement of the east platform at Wallan and Broadford, and the extensions of the west platform at Donnybrook and Wallan to allow passengers to safely exit at any train door.
Currently V/Line train conductors remind passengers to be careful when exiting the train to ensure there is a platform to step onto.
It is the first time since 2005 that major work has been scheduled for the Craigieburn to Seymour area Mr Mulder said.
“This work is critical to the future of the Seymour rail line,” he said.
“When completed passengers should notice not only a smoother ride, but a marginally faster and more reliable trip as speed restrictions are lifted from areas of track this work will fix.”
The works program has been designed to minimise the impact to regular commuters and freight trains.
To allow the bridges to be replaced as quickly as possible buses will replace all Seymour and Shepparton trains between Friday 6 April and Sunday 15 April.
From Monday 16 to Friday 27 April Seymour trains will return for peak periods only.
V/Line Chief Executive Officer Rob Barnett said the Seymour works were the biggest single infrastructure spend in the 2011-12 financial year budget.
“Most of the bridges to be replaced are up to 100-years-old,” he said.
“There has never been any risk to passenger safety by continuing to use them.
However replacing them is the better option rather than a short term and expensive repair.
“These works are a continuation of our strategy to bring the Seymour line to a standard comparable to the Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo and Gippsland lines.”
The bridge and platform works are scheduled to be completed by 30 April, with resleepering and ballasting works continuing to later in the year.
Albury line trains will not be affected during the V/Line works and will run as timetabled.
