Djilang Alliance wins contract for the Geelong Line upgrade project

arup, Djilang Alliiance, Downer, Geelong, mcconnell dowell, rail, Victoria, WSP,

July 7, 2022

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Djilang Alliance is appointed to deliver the next step for the South Geelong to Waurn Ponds Duplication project in Victoria.

The alliance brings together construction and design experts McConnell Dowell, Downer, Arup and WSP, who have formed the team to help deliver more frequent and reliable services and better stations for passengers on Victoria’s busiest regional rail line.

The South Geelong to Waurn Ponds Duplication will include around 8 kilometres of track duplication and elevated rail bridges to replace level crossings at Fyans Street and the Surf Coast Highway, as well as signalling upgrades.

South Geelong and Marshall stations will be upgraded and feature new station buildings, landscaped forecourts, second platforms and accessible pedestrian overpasses.

Early works are progressing, including the relocation of a Barwon Water pipeline, with major construction to follow later this year and a target completion date of late 2024.

The local community and passengers can expect to see construction crews around Marshall Station over the coming months as the Alliance’s first site compound starts to take shape.

The project forms part of the Victorian and Australian governments’ investment of more than $1 billion in rail upgrades between South Geelong and Waurn Ponds. It is part of the Regional Rail Revival program.

Ewan Henderson, Djilang Alliance General Manager, says, “We know how important this project is for the people of Geelong, and our team is very proud to work hand in hand with the local community and Rail Projects Victoria to provide these important infrastructure upgrades for current and future generations.”

About Geelong Line Upgrade

The Victorian and Australian governments are investing in a series of significant, staged upgrades along the length of the Geelong Line to enable faster, more frequent and reliable services for Victoria’s fastest-growing regional city.

Waurn Ponds Station upgrade

Completed in May 2022, the upgrades enabled 20 peak and shoulder peak services to and from Waurn Ponds Station each week, with two extended services in the morning and 2 in the evening on weekdays.

The Waurn Ponds Station upgrade included:

• A second platform on the south side of the station with shelters and seating
• Track duplication to enable trains to pass each other
• A new accessible pedestrian overpass to provide access between the two platforms featuring lifts, ramps and stairs
• Secure bicycle storage and bicycle hoops
• Additional CCTV, lighting, myki machines and passenger information displays.
• Car park improvements featuring:
  • More than 90 new car parking spaces
  • Sealing 120 existing gravel car parking spaces
  • More accessible car parking
  • New drop-off zone
  • Access at both ends of the car park.

Source: Waurn Ponds Station upgrade – Victoria’s Big Build 

Marshall Station upgrade 

Passengers at Marshall Station can look forward to a more modern and accessible station as part of the South Geelong to Waurn Ponds Duplication. 

Station upgrades

• Brand new station building and forecourt on the existing platform
• A new second platform, an accessible pedestrian overpass, improved shelter and better wayfinding
• An enclosed waiting room on the existing platform
• A high-quality architectural and landscape design for the station and public areas
• More than 200 new car parking spaces, boosting capacity by more than 30% and providing more choice of where to catch the train for the growing communities of Geelong and the Surf Coast
• Lighting and CCTV upgrades to help improve station safety for passengers
• An integrated public and active transport precinct with improved connections and facilities for walking and cycling, including additional parkiteers and bicycle hoops
• Upgrades to the bus interchange to provide better access for vehicles and pedestrians
• A new footpath will connect Marshalltown and Barwarre roads to the new second platform.

Source: Marshall Station upgrade – Victoria’s Big Build 

South Geelong Station upgrade 

The upgrades at South Geelong Station will create well-designed public spaces and a better station precinct.

Station upgrades

• A new station building and forecourt on the existing platform
• A new second platform, an accessible pedestrian overpass, improved shelter and better wayfinding
• Lighting and CCTV upgrades to help improve station safety for passengers
• A high-quality architectural and landscape design for the station and public areas
• Reconfigured station car park with safer pedestrian access and improved landscaping
• Pedestrian and cycling links to the Bellarine Rail Trail
• Additional parkiteers and bike hoops as well as improved bicycle paths in and around the station to provide better and safer connections to the shared user path
• Changes to Carr Street to create an entry to the new second platform, pedestrian overpass and forecourt
• Better connections between South Geelong Station, the Kardinia Park precinct and local retail businesses on Moorabool Street.

Source: South Geelong Station upgrade – Victoria’s Big Build 

Fyans Street level crossing removal

Both level crossing sites are complex, with many environmental, community and technical considerations to be understood and balanced.

Several designs were assessed during the planning phase, with technical studies, site constraints, construction impacts, community impacts and urban design opportunities considered in determining the most feasible design solution.

Source: Fyans Street level crossing removal – Victoria’s Big Build

Surf Coast Highway level crossing removal 

Removing the level crossing at Surf Coast Highway will also provide opportunities to introduce new shared user path connections and create green open space.

The flashing lights, train horns, and level crossing bells will be eliminated, reducing noise to the surrounding area. 

A new rail alignment

We are moving the rail line away from residents – up to 190m south of the current alignment at Surf Coast Highway – to minimise disruption during construction and create new green open space between homes and the new rail line.

The new elevated rail bridge will be built away from the existing track, allowing the latest track to be constructed while trains run, reducing disruption to Surf Coast Highway traffic and Geelong Line train services.

Straightening the track in this area will also improve how trains run on this part of the new rail line.

Source: Surf Coast Highway level crossing removal – Victoria’s Big Build 

Barwon Heads Road level crossing removal

The project extends 4 kilometres from Settlement Road to Reserve Road. Upgrading Baron Heads Road will make citizens’ journeys safer and more predictable.

As part of the project, these changes will be taken place:

• Duplicate 4km of Barwon Heads Road between Settlement Road and Reserve Road
• Build a bridge over the railway line at Marshall, removing the level crossing
• Upgrade intersections at Settlement Road and Breakwater Road
• Install new traffic lights at Crows Road, Barwarre Road, Marshalltown Road and Reserve Road
• Build 4km of new shared walking and cycling path and dedicated on-road cycling lanes
• Install new street lighting, road signage, drainage and landscaping

Source: Barwon Heads Road Upgrade – Victoria’s Big Build 

Waurn Ponds train maintenance and stabling facility 

The construction of new train maintenance and stabling facility at Waurn Ponds is required to support much-needed additional services on the Geelong line. 

Next steps

Construction of the first stage of the stabling facility is underway and delivered by Downer as part of the contract for the Geelong and Warrnambool line upgrades.

Major earthworks and construction of the service buildings are continuing, with track installation to commence in the coming months.

The stabling facility will allow VLocity trains to be housed overnight, providing much-needed storage capacity to support the additional services enabled by the significant upgrades underway along the line.

Source: Waurn Ponds train maintenance and stabling facility – Victoria’s Big Build 

Shared user paths 

As part of the upgrade to the Geelong Line, we’re creating new shared-use paths for cycling and walking to better connect communities between South Geelong and Waurn Ponds.

The alignment of the new shared user path follows the rail line, improving connections to public transport, existing rail-trails and new green open space being delivered as part of the project.

Additional parkiteers and bike hoops will be provided at South Geelong and Marshall stations and Waurn Ponds Station. Improved bicycle paths in and around the stations will provide better and safer connections to the shared-use course.

New sections of the shared-use path will include:

• The length of Carr Street
• Breakwater Road to Gundog Lane joining Barwon Heads Road
• along Station Road linking to Marshall Station
• Marshall Station to Reserve Road, then linking to Surf Coast Highway
• Safety upgrades along Gundog Lane and South Barwon Reserve.

New shared user paths will provide safe off-road travel options, including:

• Safer paths to cross major intersections and access public transport and areas of interest
• Better connections and a continuous route between South Geelong and Waurn Ponds
• Wide paths to accommodate pedestrians and cyclists.

Source: Shared user paths – Victoria’s Big Build 

Source: McConnel Dowell Creative Construction

Source: Victoria’s Big Build

Image Source: © State Government of Victoria, Australia 2022

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