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Creation Date: Fri, 11 Nov 2011 GMT

Delivering Victoria's Regional Rail Link

Delivery of Victoria’s Regional Rail Link – currently the nation’s biggest public transport infrastructure project – is gathering pace, with the construction of two new platforms at Southern Cross Station now complete.

The Prime Minister and Victorian Government also confirmed the tendering processes associated with the other major packages of work on the project are well advanced.

When complete, the Regional Rail Link will connect more Victorians to jobs as well as education and recreation opportunities in Melbourne's west - one of the fastest growing regions in Australia.

The Gillard Government is determined to make Melbourne and regional centres such as Geelong, Ballarat and Bendigo even better places to live, work and raise a family.

The laying of a new, dedicated track from West Werribee to Southern Cross Station will give regional services more direct access to Melbourne as well as free up seats on existing metro services.

In total, this new line is expected to provide capacity for an extra 9,000 passengers during peak times.

Procurements underway on the project include:
 

• Southern Cross Station to Moonee Ponds Creek – Track, Civil and Trackside Signalling Equipment, and Melbourne Yard Interlocking contracts awarded. The Suburban Interlocking contract is being finalised.
• Southern Cross Station to Footscray – the tender process is underway for the competitive Target Outturn Cost phase.
• Footscray to Sunshine – is in the final stages of the procurement process.
• Sunshine to Deer Park – the procurement process in being finalised.
• Deer Park to West Werribee – in the final stages of the procurement process.
• West Werribee Junction – tender process underway for the main design and construct contract for the Bulban Road Bridge.
• Train control and systems – final stages of the procurement process.

In addition to the completion of Southern Cross platforms 15 and 16, early works have already been completed on both the Footscray to Sunshine and West Werribee Junction sections of the project.

The project is moving quickly to the delivery stage, with the Christmas period this year a crucial time for the construction teams.

The delivery stage of Regional Rail Link is a massive undertaking and everything is being done to hit the ground running once contracts are awarded.

Necessary remaining land acquisitions to accommodate the Link are also either underway or nearing completion.

SOURCE: ALP: http://www.alp.org.au/federal-government/news/delivering-victoria-s-regional-rail-link/