Passengers from growing communities south of Geelong will soon reap the full benefits of upgrades to Waurn Ponds Station and along the corridor, with more trains and the introduction of longer nine-car VLocity trains, which will run to Wyndham Vale for the first time.
Commissioning of the new station infrastructure into service as well as safety testing and driver training will take place during a four-week disruption on the Geelong and Warrnambool lines from Saturday 30 April 2022.
Crews will install the final two 50-metre sections of rail and relocate live signalling boxes from the rail corridor to complete track duplication at the station, allowing trains to pass each other in this section. Waurn Ponds Station’s new second platform and pedestrian overpass, as well as ramps, lifts and stairs will be open to passengers when trains return to the line in May.
From 29 May 2022, 20 peak and shoulder peak services will be extended to and from Waurn Ponds Station each week, with two extended services in the morning and two in the evening on weekdays.
Construction will also begin this month on a new walking and cycling path at the upgraded Waurn Ponds Station to extend the existing path on Baanip Boulevard, giving passengers access to the station from the south side once the new platform is open.
Nine-car VLocity trains will also be introduced on three Wyndham Vale services to help boost capacity along the south-west corridor – the busiest on the V/Line network.
Warrnambool passengers will also benefit from journey time savings of two to nine minutes on some services as part of the timetable changes made possible by works on Stage 1 of the Warrnambool Line Upgrade. The first section of signalling upgrades will be commissioned while trains aren’t running in May, with more than 64 kilometres of new signalling cable installed as part of critical upgrades between Waurn Ponds and Warncoort.
Stage 1 of the project is due to be delivered by the end of the year, when the remaining signalling upgrades between Warncoort and Warrnambool are commissioned as part of the Australian and Victorian government’s investment in upgrades from Waurn Ponds to Warrnambool.
Coaches will replace trains on sections of the Geelong and Warrnambool lines from Saturday 30 April to Saturday 28 May 2022. Passengers can find out if they’re affected at bigbuild.vic.gov.au.
More detailed information on the new timetables will be available from 13 May 2022 at ptv.vic.gov.au, vline.com.au and PTV’s journey planner app.
The upgrades form part of the Australian and Victorian governments’ investment of more than $4 billion Regional Rail Revival, which is upgrading every passenger rail line in Victoria and creating more than 3,000 jobs.
As stated by Minister for Transport Infrastructure Jacinta Allan
“The Waurn Ponds Station upgrade is already providing better access from the new forecourt and car park, and when complete will enable more trains in the peak, when they’re needed most.”
“We’re delivering for the growing communities south of Geelong – supporting jobs and delivering the vital transport upgrades this community needs as it grows.”
As stated by Member for South Barwon Darren Cheeseman
“Getting to Waurn Ponds Station will soon be quicker, safer and more convenient thanks to the new path we’re building as part of our major investment in this growing community.”
“Upgrades have already boosted car parking at the station to more than 500 spaces, as we make it easier for passengers to drive, walk or cycle to take the train.”
As stated by Minister for Public Transport Ben Carroll
“These upgrades will deliver significant passenger benefits with 20 services extended to and from Waurn Ponds each week and the introduction of longer, nine-car VLocity trains on select Wyndham Vale services.”
