Another station on the Ballarat line is one step closer, with the state government releasing designs and more details for Cobblebank.
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Previously named Toolern, between Melton and Rockbank stations, Cobblebank currently has a population of about 1000, but is expected to grow to more than 55,000.
Funded by the state government, not Regional Rail Revival Victoria, the station is expected to be finished by the time the broader Ballarat line upgrade is completed, and will include bus links.
The design leaves room for a second pair of tracks to bypass the station for express trains in the future, according to the Public Transport Users Association.
Travel times for Ballarat services are expected to remain the same when the station is finished, though there may be some disruptions during construction.
Committee for Ballarat chair Nic Beale said the new station was a “great concern”, adding the focus should be on separating metropolitan and V/Line trains.
“This is the only way that Ballarat and the region will be able to have a sub-hour service,” he said.
“We urge both political parties to liaise closely with all the regions of Victoria, even looking at public/private cooperation to solve the rail problems.”
Public Transport User Association’s Ben Lever said the new station shouldn’t cause too many headaches for Ballarat commuters “in the very short term”, as Melton and Bacchus Marsh services would be more likely to stop at Cobblebank.
“Whoever wins government in November, they will need to start preparing to quadruplicate and electrify the line to Melton as soon as possible, to give the western suburbs of Melbourne a genuine Metro service, and reduce crowding for regional passengers,” he said.
“As the current duplication works ramp down next year, early works should be starting on both the electrification of the line to Melton, and the construction of the bypass tracks.
“It's fantastic to see that the (Cobblebank) station design allows room for this - hopefully Rockbank's design can be revised to do the same, in light of recent announcements.”
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