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Arup on-board for major regional rail upgrade

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Trish Sunga Trish Sunga Australasia Press Office,Sydney
17 March 2021

Arup, as part of the VicConnect consortium, has been awarded the contract for the Gippsland Line Upgrade’s major package of works between Traralgon and Pakenham.

The section to be improved extends between Traralgon in the Latrobe Valley (about 160km from the Melbourne CBD) to Pakenham on the city’s fringe.

The VicConnect team, which includes CIMIC Group company UGL and Decmil, will design and build the $300 million project. Early works on the project are underway, with signalling and track taking place to support major construction ramping up in the coming months.

“

This is a key project in the Regional Rail Revival program and will significantly improve the operations of the line and the customer experience. ”

Liam ODonahue Liam O’Donohue Principal | Victoria Leader
Train station and platform, Victoria, Australia Train station and platform, Victoria, Australia
The major works package will improve rail operations and customer experience

“Arup will bring a highly experienced team to the consortium to undertake all the rail infrastructure, architectural and stations design and provide specialist environmental, sustainability and rail assurance advice,” Liam said.

“We are proud to be working with Rail Projects Victoria and looking forward to supporting local communities.” 

The major works package includes:

  • second platforms and station amenity works at Bunyip, Longwarry and Morwell stations

  • reactivating the second platform at Traralgon Station

  • extending the Morwell crossing loop

  • duplicating track, and 

  • upgrading level crossings and signalling.

The second platform at Morwell Station has been redesigned after consultation with Latrobe City Council and the local community to improve connectivity with the bus interchange and reduce impacts to car parking.

The project will improve train services’ reliability and frequency, with Traralgon trains able to travel every 40-minutes between the peaks. 

The Gippsland Line Upgrade is targeted for completion in late 2022. It is being delivered as part of the $4 billion Regional Rail Revival program, which is upgrading every regional passenger rail line in Victoria and creating 3,000 jobs.

Train station and platform, Longwarry, Victoria, Australia Train station and platform, Longwarry, Victoria, Australia
The major works package includes second platforms and station amenities at Bunyip, Longwarry and Morwell stations.