AUSTRALIA: The first of three new stations being built on the lines from Bendigo to Echuca and Swan Hill as part of Victoria’s A$4bn Regional Rail Revival programme has opened for revenue service.
The stations at Goornong and Huntley on the Echuca line and Raywood on the route to Swan Hill form part of the A$49·6m Bendigo Metro 3 package being delivered by Major Projects Victoria.
Track improvements between Epsom and Echuca have allowed speeds to be increased from 80 to 130 km/h, while an electronic train order system is to be installed on both branches, allowing the operation of additional services to and from Melbourne. Level crossing improvements are also being undertaken as part of the programme.
The single-platform station at Goornong was opened with the V/Line timetable change on December 12. Huntly station is scheduled for completion in mid-2022, and Raywood will follow by the end of the year.
Goornong is initially being served by two trains each way per day, offering journey times of 1 h to Echuca and 2 h 20 min to Melbourne’s Southern Cross hub; there are four trains each way per day at weekends.
‘We promised to get on with these vital track upgrades to deliver faster train services for passengers between Epsom and Goornong — and that’s exactly what we’ve done’, said Victorian Minister for Transport Infrastructure Jacinta Allan.
