No definitive timeline has yet been released for a plan to untangle passenger and freight congestion around Ballarat’s station.
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Rail Projects Victoria (RPV) is still planning the delivery strategy and full construction schedule for the Freight Passenger Rail Separation Project, with detail mooted to be announced at the end of this year.
Under the project, broad gauge passenger services and single gauge freight trains will be separated around Ballarat Station, allowing for more efficient use of the platforms and fewer hold-up periods.
The Courier understands there will be significant construction impacts on the Armstrong Street Bridge, which currently spans part of a 1.2 kilometre single rail track ‘bottleneck’ which will be duplicated in the works.
The Freight Passenger Rail Separation Project is scheduled for completion in late 2020. Money for the project was included in the 2018/19 state budget.
Regional Rail Revival project director Mark Havryluk said the process of dissecting public transport rail from freight in Ballarat would ease the way for more passenger services.
“The Freight-Passenger Rail Separation Project will ensure that we maximise the benefits of the Murray Basin Rail Project and the Ballarat Line Upgrade – that makes it possible for more passenger services in the future and dedicated pathways for freight to the ports,” he said.
The upgrades are part of the Murray Basin Rail Project, and when completed will allow for a fifth daily commuter service to run between Ballarat and Ararat while paving the way for further services to Maryborough.
The upgrades will allow up 65 return freight services to run from the Murray Basin region through Ballarat with the use of the Ararat and Maryborough loop.
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