The state government has conceded that construction to duplicate 17 kilometres of track between Melton and Deer Park west will not begin for another year, with 2017 set for a year of planning and site investigation.

The funding, announced in the 2016-17 state budget last April, also includes passing loops at Bacchus Marsh, Ballan and near Bungaree as well as three kilometres of duplicated track near Warrenheip.

It was announced on the back of a horror year under the Regional Rail Link, which buckled under the increased number of services and growth in patronage.

A statement from a government spokesperson to The Courier confirmed the timeframe for the project.

“Site investigations along the line will start in early 2017,” it said.

“We are continuing to progress procurement this year with a view to starting major construction in 2018.

“We are aiming to complete the project by 2020.”

The tender for the project is yet to be announced, while there is still no firm date for when the new Caroline Springs Station will open.

In positive news for commuters, it was announced in November that peak Ballarat to Melbourne services would not service the station, with Bacchus Marsh trains to service it during peak periods.

The duplication of the line between Melton and Deer Park west is a key step in eventual electrification to Melton, which won’t be commenced until the completion of Melbourne’s Metro Tunnel project.

Public Transport Users Association Ballarat convener Ben Lever said he was pleased the project was going on, but said the long-term future of the line remains the key, given the ongoing population boost through the western growth corridor.

"During the planning phase of this project, it will be really important to consider the future of the corridor between Caroline Springs and Melton,” he said.

“There will be a lot of suburban infill over the next few years, which will mean a lot of extra traffic on the roads – they may be quiet and semi-rural now, but they won't be for long. The number of trains will also be increasing – more V/Line trains to Ballarat, and hopefully electric Metro trains to Melton in the near future. 

“Some of these level crossings will become very dangerous in coming years, and it may make sense to remove them while the line is shut down for duplication works, to minimise disruption and keep the costs down – rather than double-handling things, and having to rip up the new tracks only a few years later.

“These are the kinds of questions the government will need to be asking during the detailed planning in 2017." 

However, Western Victoria MP Joshua Morris said the timeframe on the project was disappointing and said it raised questions over why planning such as site inspections hadn’t already started.

“In recent times, under Labor, we’ve seen the travel time to Melbourne increase with the new timetables. This revelation (of a 2018 start date) goes to show that the current labor government is wholly city centric,” he said.

“The community has a right to ask what the government has done since it’s announced the upgrade to the Ballarat line.

“We’ve seen significant growth in terms of passenger numbers of late and for the government not to prioritize the upgrade of the line is extremely concerning.”

A local commuter said they were also disappointed with the timeframe, but also accepted it was an important step to helping the line cope with future demand.

"I think every commuter understands this stage is the first step towards getting electrification to Melton and, one day, full duplication,” they said.

"But it is interesting timing given 2018 is an election year."

Meanwhile, V/Line’s new timetables, effective January 29, will see 10 additional off peak services added to the Ballarat line.

However, an express train service between Ballarat and Melbourne has been ruled out.

Interim Transport Minister Luke Donnellan said in time, pressure on the line will ease as major infrastructure projects are completed and more trains added.

 “After decades of talk we are duplicating the Ballarat line to Melton, which will also capitalise on the added capacity the Metro Rail tunnel will add to the network and help deliver more services to Ballarat,” he said.