The Bendigo and Echuca line in Victoria, Australia, was modernised through a series of major upgrades, enabling local passengers to save up to 12 minutes on travel time.
The rail line upgrade delivered signalling improvements on the Bendigo-Epsom and Bendigo-Eaglehawk sections, along with track repairs between Epsom and Echuca stations.
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Rail Projects Victoria (RPV), a government agency, implemented the upgrade on behalf of the Victorian government. The project was part of the state government’s A$4bn ($2.95bn) Regional Rail Revival programme, which aims to improve all regional passenger rail lines in the state.
With a total investment of A$176.2m ($131.54m), the project was supported by A$158.7m ($118.47m) in funding from the Australian Government, with the remainder funded by the Victorian government. Work on the project began in June 2021 and was completed in August 2023.
Bendigo and Echuca line upgrade project details
The Bendigo and Echuca line upgrade involved the development of three new stations at Raywood, Goornong, and Huntly, as well as the installation of an upgraded electronic train order (ETO) system on the Bendigo-Swan Hill and Bendigo-Echuca sections.
The new ETO system includes onboard telecommunications equipment that determines the real-time location of trains on the railway network and relays this information electronically to the train controller, eliminating the existing practice of manual transmission between drivers and controllers. The technology enables the safe operation of more trains on the Bendigo and Echuca line.
The upgrade project also improved train detection technology at ten level crossings located on the section between Bendigo and Eaglehawk to enhance safety. New signals at the historic Eaglehawk station allow for the full usage of the extended platform.
Major upgrades to a 60km section of track have increased the maximum train speed from 80km/h to 100km/h between Goornong and Echuca.
Furthermore, the existing 80km of tracks between Epsom and Echuca were upgraded with new sleepers and ballast, increasing the train speed on the route between Epsom and the new Goornong Station from 80km/h to 130km/h.
Details of new stations
Goornong station is located west of the Chute Street/Goornong-Barnadown Road level crossing, between the Midland Highway and the rail line in Goornong.
Huntly station was built on the north side of the rail line, west of the Wakeman Road level crossing while Raywood station is located on Inglewood Street, just north of the Inglewood Street level crossing.
All three stations feature a single-sided platform, shelter, lighting, seating, signage, a public address system, car parking, and CCTV systems. Huntly station also includes a bus stop and two bus bays.
Goornong station was officially opened in December 2021 while the Huntly and Raywood stations welcomed their first trains in July 2022.
Benefits of the Bendigo and Echuca line upgrade project
The Bendigo and Echuca rail line upgrade has enabled more frequent services between Epsom, Eaglehawk, and Bendigo. It has introduced two new weekday return services to Echuca, tripling the number of weekday services on the route.
In addition to enhancing connectivity across the region, the project has improved public transportation in the city of Bendigo and offers more travel options for passengers in the greater Bendigo region.
Financing details of Bendigo and Echuca line upgrade
The Labor Government invested A$49.6m ($36.7m) in the Bendigo Metro 3 project, which included the development of new stations.
Contractors involved
Australian construction company John Holland was awarded a contract to deliver the track upgrades for the Bendigo and Echuca line upgrade. The company replaced more than 20,000 sleepers and delivered rail bridge upgrades, new ballast, drainage improvements, mud-hole removal, and enhancements to level crossings.
Victorian state-owned regional public transport operator V/Line and rail equipment supplier Wabtec delivered the modernised ETO system.
GHD Group, an Australian engineering and architecture company, was selected by V/Line to design track upgrades for the project. Symal Infrastructure, a construction company based in Australia, was contracted to deliver the three new stations, as part of the Bendigo Metro 3 (BM3) project, an important component of the broader Bendigo and Echuca line upgrade project.
Aurecon Jacobs and Mott MacDonald Joint Venture (AJM-JV) was selected by RPV to offer services such as multidisciplinary design support, environmental assessment, geotechnics, value engineering, communications and stakeholder engagement for the larger Regional Rail Revival project.
