Ballarat line passengers will soon have better train stations and services with the half-a-billion-dollar transformation of the line well underway.
Premier Daniel Andrews and Minister for Transport Infrastructure Jacinta Allan today visited Ballan Station to inspect progress on the station upgrade, being delivered as part of the Ballarat Line Upgrade (BLU).
Structures are now in place to support Ballan Station's new pedestrian overpass, which will include stairs, ramps and lifts to boost accessibility at the station. The overpass, which is being constructed off-site, is expected to arrive in the coming days and will be lifted into place by a crane later this month.
The structure for a new second platform next to the future site of the station's new car park is also taking shape.
The upgrade, which is due to be complete later this year, will also deliver new, secure bicycle storage and improved security, lighting and landscaping.
A 4.5 kilometre passing loop will also be built at Ballan, providing more space for trains to pass each other, allowing the introduction of more services and boosting reliability.
Other station upgrades on the Ballarat line are continuing, with work beginning soon at Wendouree, and a new station well on the way at Cobblebank. At Rockbank Station roof canopies are in place for platforms, and the new pedestrian overpass structure being built on site will soon be ready to lift into place.
Construction will ramp up along the entire line over the coming months, with a nine-day work blitz taking place while coaches replace trains from the evening of Friday 22 March until Sunday 31 March.
The BLU is being delivered as part of the $1.75 billion Regional Rail Revival. It will transform the state's second busiest regional train line to run more services in the peak and allow trains every 40 minutes off-peak.
Around 730,000 hours have been worked on the Ballarat Line Upgrade since construction started in late 2017, with around 66,000 of the hours worked by cadets, trainees and apprentices.
The Regional Rail Revival is upgrading every regional Victorian passenger line and will create more than 1000 jobs across the state. For more information, visit regionalrailrevival.vic.gov.au
As stated by Premier Daniel Andrews
"Ballan will soon have a better train station and services thanks to our half-a-billion upgrade of the Ballarat line."
"We're upgrading every regional train line in Victoria to get people home safer and sooner, wherever they live."
As stated by Minister for Transport Infrastructure Jacinta Allan
"We're upgrading stations, signalling and track so we can run more trains, more often on the Ballarat line."
As stated by Member for Buninyong Michaela Settle
"I thank locals for the patience while we deliver a better station at Ballan, and better services right along the line."
