Premier Ted Baillieu and Transport Minister Terry Mulder have announced a series of major works to improve public transport reliability for Victorian commuters.
Mr Mulder said Easter would see significant work carried out on both country and metropolitan train lines, as well as on Melbourne’s tram network.
This will include intensive maintenance and renewal on the Cranbourne line between Dandenong and Cranbourne, involving large scale replacement of points, signaling, overhead wiring and the installation of concrete sleepers.
Mr Mulder said the intensive nature of the Cranbourne project would result in the equivalent of 12 months of maintenance and renewal carried out in just nine days over the Easter period.
“This concentrated period of work will also save an estimated $2.7 million in costs, which will be pumped into further maintenance and renewal projects,” Mr Mulder said.
There will also be Easter works on Australia’s largest public transport project, Regional Rail Link, between Footscray and Sunshine, while on the country rail network re-sleepering, mud hole repair and bridge renewals on the Seymour line will occur.
Mr Mulder said Yarra Trams was using Easter to renew tram tracks on St Kilda Road – the busiest tram carriageway in the world.
“With cultural and sporting events a year-round phenomenon, it’s almost impossible to find a free weekend to undertake critical works without impacting on anybody,” Mr Mulder said.
“However each operator will be providing replacement services during any disruption, ensuring public transport remains a viable option.
“Over four years the Coalition Government is investing $900 million to begin fixing the maintenance backlog left behind by Labor and begin building a more reliable public transport network for Victoria,” Mr Mulder said.
