With Dan Andrews having started his second term, I started to think about what this government had achieved in the area of public transport in four years and when I started to put it all together it is quite impressive what has been achieved.
I have probably missed some things; suggestions / additions are welcome
I haven’t included promises that haven’t had anything concrete done on them yet; e.g. Suburban Rail Loop, Fast rail to Geelong, etc.
Metro Tunnel:
Design finalised, contracts signed, work begun.
Western decline: piling underway for decline and TBM retrieval box, ground improvement work near Lloyd St, High Voltage transmission towers relocated/replaced
North Melbourne station: station box excavation underway
Parkville station: station box excavation has just begun
State Library station: A’Becket St shaft complete and road header at work (two more due to arrive in 2019), piling underway or about to begin at most other sites
Town Hall Station: piling underway at City Square, Federation Square Visitors Centre demolition complete, demolition continuing around Young and Jacksons
ANZAC station: station box nearly ready for excavation to begin
Eastern decline: piling to begin in January for decline and TBM retrieval box
Archaeological digs continuing
TBMs being assembled - (scheduled for delivery in early 2019)
Tunnel lining factory under construction and connection to rail network being prepared
High Capacity Metro Trains:
Designed and contract signed for 65 trains
Newport site modified and now assembling trains
East Pakenham depot designed and construction nearing completion, rail connection to network installed
First train set assembled and being fitted out at East Pakenham
At least four more trains worth of cars delivered to Newport for assembly with deliveries on going
New substations, renewal of overhead, signalling and track well underway on Dandenong corridor
Platform extensions begun where needed; e.g. South Yarra
Level Crossing Removal Authority:
Mernda line extension built and opened
29 crossings removed in 4 years including elevated rail on Dandenong line
4 more currently have construction underway
Contracts for 7 more removals awarded
Planning for 30 more underway
New stations built at Frankston, Rosanna and the Dandenong elevated rail ones
Duplication between Heidelberg and Rosanna completed
New substation at Eaglemont and 3 others upgraded on Hurstbridge line
Planning underway for replacement of Greensborough station and further duplication towards Eltham and between Diamond Creek and Wattle Glen
Preparation begun for stabling sidings at Kananook and Wyndham Vale
Regional Rail Revival (Rail Projects Victoria):
Ballarat line duplication from Caroline Springs to Melton nearing completion
Duplication through Ballan underway
Work started on passing loop at Millbrook
Rockbank being rebuilt, Cobblebank under construction, Bacchus Marsh work beginning, Ballan modifications underway
Stabling sidings at Maddingley nearing completion including duplicated track being constructed to Bacchus Marsh
Shepparton stabling siding complete
Donnybrook and Wallan station upgrades under preparation
Replacement Avon River bridge preparation begun
Geelong and Warrnambool upgrades planned, site investigations begun, Expressions of Interest opened (planned to begin by 2020)
Site investigations begun for Echuca line speed improvement, Bendigo ‘Metro 2’ planning and design underway
Other:
Southland station built and opened
Business case for Baxter electrification funded
Melbourne Airport Rail Link Registration of Interest open, business case underway, funding committed, technical and commercial advisors appointed
Murray Basin standardisation underway (still many issues due to project management failures)
Many tram stops upgraded to accessible ones in and near CBD
Rolling Stock:
18 V’Locity’s delivered and 11 more under construction, standard gauge bogies and buffet unit being designed for additional orders (not yet placed), refurbishment of existing fleet of 75
38 Xtrapolis 100’s (3 car units) delivered and 10 more on order. Alstom contracted to redesign Xtrapolis for future orders, refurbishment of existing sets has begun
Life extension of Comeng sets underway with at least 40 completed
22 E2 trams delivered, 8 under construction and 10 more ordered
Life extension of B2 class underway (A class to follow after B2s)
Mid-life overhaul of C and D classes begun
Possible items that could have been included but I considered tenuous enough to leave out:
Metro Tunnel: West Footscray turnback work intended to commence in first 3 months of 2019
Regional Rail Revival: ARTC to contract upgrade works for NE line beginning in 2019
Other: Cranbourne line duplication with case study for Clyde extension commitment
Neil