$1.8b Sunbury Line Upgrade completed six months ahead of schedule

July 17, 2023

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The $1.8b Sunbury Line Upgrade has been delivered six months early, with new tracks now connecting the line to the Metro Tunnel’s western entrance.

The Andrews Labor Government’s Sunbury Line Upgrade is now complete – another major step towards the opening of the Metro Tunnel in 2025, a year ahead of schedule.

The $1.8 billion Sunbury Line Upgrade has been delivered six months early, with new tracks now connecting the line to the Metro Tunnel’s western entrance in Kensington after the tunnel’s eastern entrance in South Yarra was connected to the Cranbourne-Pakenham line in January.

“The Sunbury Line Upgrade has been completed six months ahead of schedule – it means less congestion for the Sunbury community, one more level crossing gone for good, and bigger trains set to run on the Sunbury Line when the Metro Tunnel opens,” says Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews.

During the rail occupation in late June and early July, workers built more than 300 metres of track to connect the Sunbury Line to the tracks at the western entrance, as well as installing and testing high-capacity signalling and power equipment.

The work completed in recent weeks means there is now 97 kilometres of continuous track from Melbourne’s north-west to south-east, via the new twin nine-kilometre rail tunnels under the city.

Work began on the Sunbury Line Upgrade in 2019 and included power and signalling upgrades and new substations along the line, platform extensions at eight stations, new wheelchair boarding pads and upgrades to train stabling at Sunbury, Calder Park and Watergardens.

“This is another step in building a better Sunbury – removing the Gap Road level crossing, upgrading Sunbury Road and preparing the line for more frequent, reliable trains for local passengers,” says Member for Sunbury Josh Bull.

This work complements other projects in the area, including seven level crossing removals to make the Sunbury Line boom gate-free by 2025.

The Gap Road level crossing was also removed while crews were working on the line – getting rid of Sunbury’s worst traffic bottleneck three years earlier than originally planned.

The Metro Tunnel will allow Sunbury Line passengers to travel all the way to Cranbourne or Pakenham without getting off the train, and access five new underground stations when the city-shaping project opens to the public.

Source: © Copyright State Government of Victoria

Image source: © Copyright State Government of Victoria