Newsletter October 2014 www.regionalraillink.vic.gov.au

Thank You Message from the CEO

Hello, and welcome to the very last edition of the newsletter.

After years of planning and three years of construction, the Regional Rail Link project is almost complete.

This landmark infrastructure project - winner of Infrastructure Australia’s Project of the Year Award and a Premier’s Sustainability Award for 2014 – is on track to be delivered under budget and ahead of schedule, Platforms 15 & 16 at Southern Cross Station. The new twin track rail bridge over Dudley Street, West . The superstructure over the Maribyrnong River. The new Footscray railway station platform adjacent to Irving Street. The rebuilt West Footscray railway station. with early service benefits already introduced along the Ballarat and Bendigo lines and Geelong line services due to commence on the new tracks between west Werribee and Deer Park in early 2015.

Major civil works on the project are complete and the Rail Systems project team has almost finished the commissioning phase of the signalling and train control infrastructure on the new RRL lines out to west Werribee.

In this last edition of the RRL newsletter we reflect on the major works we have completed and how the project will improve service reliability and capacity for regional and metropolitan commuters. We also take a look at the incredible legacy the Regional Rail Link project leaves behind. The rebuilt Sunshine railway station. The new HV McKay Memorial Gardens footbridge in Sunshine. One of two level crossing removals on Anderson Road, Sunshine. The new Tarneit railway station. The new Wyndham Vale railway station. It has been a pleasure sharing the excitement of the Tottenham: - Four major structures at Werribee River, - Realignment of Bulban Road to delivery of this landmark project with you over the last Lollipop Creek, Skeleton Creek accommodate the new rail bridge three years. We hope that our regular newsletter, web Our work packages - Improvements to the entrance, forecourt and Davis Creek and social media updates have kept you informed of and an additional 100 car parking spaces - Service and fibre optic cable relocations, Over the last three years our work package project teams have worked Footscray – Deer Park at Tottenham railway station - Two new railway stations at Wyndham Vale as well as drainage and landscaping works our progress along the way, and that you have enjoyed in your communities building the new rail infrastructure which will separate and Tarneit with lifts, ramps and stairs - Slewing of the existing broad gauge watching the project progress as much as we have - Laying of new track over 7.5 kilometres - Major bridge works at Ashley Street regional trains from metropolitan trains in Melbourne’s west. In total, the project encompassing carparks for 1,000 cars (V/Line) tracks enjoyed sharing it with you. from Footscray to Sunshine and Stony Creek. & bus interchange has created 3,500 direct and 2,700 indirect jobs with construction workers - Signalling civil works. working over 14 million man hours. Each work package has undertaken a - Modifications to the metropolitan signalling Sunshine: - A full depth cutting over 2 kilometres No project of this size could be carried out successfully system from Footscray to Sunshine through Wyndham Vale without the cooperation of the surrounding communities. phenomenal amount of work in a short space of time. Here we take a look - Rebuild of Sunshine railway station - Improving pedestrian and cycling links - 34 new waterway crossings / drainage Rail Systems back at some of the most iconic infrastructure each package has delivered. including a new platform and pedestrian Our project teams have worked in and around your by creating bike and shared user paths structures - Modification of existing Metro and V/Line neighbourhoods and on your rail lines, delivering connecting to cycleways and bridges overpass, improved station entrance, - Extension of Christies Road, Truganina train control systems spanning the entire construction information, community programs and - Upgrades to the North Melbourne that can accommodate future rail corridor ramps and forecourts, lifts and stairs Southern Cross and construction of Armstrong Road, RRL corridor rail-over-rail flyover expansion. Parkiteer cages and bicycle - Replacement of HV McKay Memorial initiatives. Wyndham Vale - Creation of a new train control system and - Two new platforms (15 & 16) hoops have also been installed at new Gardens footbridge - Additional V/Line train stabling near new generation computer based signalling The new rail-over-rail bridge at West Werribee Junction. at Southern Cross Station and upgraded stations. - Civil works for signalling On behalf of the entire Regional Rail Link project team, North Melbourne railway station - Removal of two level crossings system for the Regional Rail Link tracks - New bridge over Dudley Street I would like to thank you for your ongoing cooperation - Major bridge modifications at Dynon Road at Anderson Road. - Improving pedestrian and cycling links in West Melbourne Footscray: - Installation of approximately 36 kilometres and Lloyd Street, and works at Moonee by creating bike and shared user paths and support over the past few years. We truly could not connecting to cycleways and bridges of fibre optic cable to support the new train - Laying of new track along 2 kilometres Ponds Creek rail bridge - Major upgrade to Footscray railway station Ardeer and Deer Park: control systems have done it without you. including new platforms adjacent to Irving that can accommodate future rail corridor - New signalling system for the new regional - Construction of a new 1 kilometre - Improvement works to level crossings at Street, improved station entrance and expansion. Parkiteer cages and bicycle - Upgrading of existing pedestrian tracks and modifications to the signalling superstructure over the Maribyrnong River Fitzgerald Road (Ardeer), Mt Derrimut Road forecourts incorporating escalators, ramps, hoops have also been installed at new crossings at Sydney Street, Adelaide Street, Regards, system for the metropolitan rail tracks. area including a rail flyover between the and Robinsons Road (Deer Park). stations. Young Street and Tower Street Maribyrnong River and Hopkins Street, lifts and stairs - Passenger information systems at new City – Maribyrnong River Footscray - Major bridge works at Hopkins Street, Nicholson Street, Albert Street Deer Park West Werribee Junction and substantially modified railway stations - Laying of new track over 4.5 kilometres to including: - A new twin track rail bridge over Dudley separate metropolitan and regional trains and Street. – West Werribee Junction - Two new dedicated regional tracks over Street in West Melbourne 2.5 kilometres connecting the existing • Footscray - Localised replacement and upgrading - New track over 26 kilometres from West Footscray: Geelong line to Regional Rail Link Allen Garner - Extensive track reconfiguration to separate of the signalling system from City – Deer Park to West Werribee Junction • West Footscray regional and metropolitan services which CEO Maribyrnong River. - Rebuild of West Footscray railway station, - No new level crossings with 12 new road - A new rail bridge over the existing broad will be used to access platforms • Sunshine Regional Rail Link Authority including ramps, lifts and stairs. over rail bridges gauge and standard gauge tracks and at Southern Cross Station Bulban Road • Tarneit • Wyndham Vale. Installing a new train control system for the Regional Rail Link tracks. 3 Regional Rail Link – Newsletter Regional Rail Link – Newsletter 5 Award winning sustainability Regional Rail Link has capped off a triumphant 2014 with a win in the Infrastructure and Buildings category of the Premier’s Sustainability Awards.

Presented by Sustainability Victoria, the Awards recognise The award also recognises the project’s achievement and reward leadership in sustainability and celebrate the in receiving Green Star certification for five railway stations contribution businesses, institutions, communities and built or upgraded as part of the Regional Rail Link project; individuals make to a more liveable and sustainable Victoria. a first for any railway station in Australia.

They celebrate efficient use of water, resources and energy, Footscray, West Footscray, Sunshine, and the new Wyndham better waste management and recycling practices, the Vale and Tarneit railway stations have all received 4 Star enhancement of the environment, and effective, practical Green Star – Custom Design certification from the Green community action. Building Council Australia (GBCA).

Sustainability Victoria has recognised the Regional Rail Link This certification means that the stations are at the cutting project for successes in: edge of sustainable design, from the materials used in their construction, energy and water efficient features, and the - Reducing construction-phase energy and carbon layout of the precinct as a whole. by 20 per cent Regional Rail Link has been committed to protecting the - Recycling/reusing over 80 per cent of construction environment throughout construction on the project. and demolition waste

- Collaboration between project partners and between the project and wider industry

- Large reductions in materials such as Portland cement, timber and base building materials.

6 Regional Rail Link – Newsletter Enhancing skills for the future

In a step towards raising awareness of the different career opportunities the rail industry has to offer and to provide skilled workers for the future, our Rail Systems project team is running a Rail Industry Experience Week.

The program will be run in partnership With a focus on promoting the industry The week will provide students with with the Wyndham and Hobsons to females and students of Aboriginal white card (construction induction) Bay Local Learning and Employment and Torres Strait Islander descent, training, train track awareness, and Network (WynBay LLEN) and Regional 26 Year 10 students from a selection insight into some of the disciplines Rail Link Authority, with input from of schools in Melbourne’s west were and specialities within the industry. V/Line and . chosen to take part in the program. They’ll experience a scaled-down track It will be held at the VicTrack Rail Skills building exercise, learn about signalling Centre in Newport from 20-24 October The program aims to encourage and train controls, construction, and is designed to give students students to pursue exciting career operations, safety and engineering, invaluable insight into the rich and opportunities in rail and create a and will even get the chance to drive varied career opportunities that whole new generation of rail engineers, a virtual train on V/Line’s driver simulator. the rail industry has to offer. tradespeople and operations staff.

Trains on tracks in Wyndham Vale and Tarneit

On 6 October, test trains began running on the new Regional The trains are not available to carry or take passengers, Rail Link line through Wyndham Vale and Tarneit. The trains and will be making multiple trips up and back between represent a major milestone for the project and a significant Deer Park and West Werribee over the next few months. moment for the local community, who will be connected to Geelong and Melbourne’s CBD by train for the first time. These complex preparations will take some time with a number of V/Line drivers having to be trained, but the good The trains are running as part of the project’s testing and news for residents in Wyndham Vale and Tarneit is that with commissioning phase and all-important V/Line driver training. Regional Rail Link being delivered so far ahead of schedule, passenger services will commence in early 2015, a year earlier than previously planned.

Regional Rail Link – Newsletter 7 Protecting indigenous cultural heritage

Wathaurung elder Bryon Powell (far left) getting ready to repatriate artefacts during the traditional smoking ceremony.

Experience on other projects has taught us that places of “It actually should stand out as a benchmark and as a significant aboriginal cultural heritage generally occur within model for other government departments, and even private 100 metres of permanent waterways. Given the many rivers developers, that we can work together. We can look at the and creeks located in the vicinity of the new RRL tracks, the evidence, the artefacts, the heritage we’ve got here. We can team’s focus was on the discovery and preservation of any preserve them, we can look at different construction methods, artefacts identified within areas of cultural significance. and then we can tell that story,” said Powell.

On Thursday 18 September a ceremony was held next to “It’s really significant to us, and to my ancestors especially,” the Werribee River rail bridge to repatriate more than 6,000 said Tammy Gilson, Wathaurung Senior Cultural Heritage indigenous cultural artefacts excavated during works to Representative. construct the Werribee River rail bridge, built as part of the Regional Rail Link project. The repatriation of the artefacts was featured on an episode of SBS’s TV programme ‘Living Black’ which aired on Monday The ceremony was undertaken by Elder Bryon Powell from 22 September. the Wathaurung (pronounced Wadawurrung), an Indigenous Australian tribe who are the traditional owners of the land. The To share the history of the land with the Wyndham local ceremony began with Bryon immersing the artefacts in smoke community, Regional Rail Link has commissioned an from burning Cherry Ballart leaves, a traditional indigenous interpretive signage display which will be installed at the new ceremonial plant, before burying them. Wyndham Vale railway station. The signage was created in collaboration with the project archaeologist and Wathaurung. The repatriation ceremony was the culmination of many The Wathaurung aboriginal art was produced by aboriginal years work managing and protecting the indigenous cultural elder Albert Fagan. heritage of the area, while delivering rail infrastructure to service Melbourne’s rapidly growing outer-western suburbs. The signage will be on permanent display at the station Elder Bryon Powell said the Regional Rail Link project had showcasing Wathaurung aboriginal culture and artefacts set a new benchmark for management and protection of excavated from the local area during construction. Indigenous cultural heritage that future infrastructure projects The interpretive signage will be on display to the public should aspire to. once the station opens in early 2015.

8 Regional Rail Link – Newsletter Goodbye and thank you

As construction comes to an end, we want to say goodbye and thank you to the communities that we have been working with over the past three years.

Regional Rail Link will be present at the Footscray Celebrates festival held in Footscray on 15 November from 11am-2pm. Along with Metro Trains Melbourne, RRL will be hosting tours of the heritage buildings at the upgraded Footscray station, including a look at the station’s history and heritage status.

Over the next few months Regional Rail Link will be present at a number of different community events. To see if we are going to an event in your community, keep an eye on our website or Twitter feed @RRLproject for updates.

Regional Rail Link – Newsletter 9 Public Transport Victoria

Construction of Regional Rail Link is nearing completion, with V/Line passenger services expected to begin using the new dedicated tracks in early 2015.

As the project begins the transition Regional Rail Link Authority has worked PTV will be available for all enquiries phase from construction to operation, closely with PTV throughout the construction when the RRL Community Information we encourage you to contact Public period. Alongside V/Line, PTV will be Line is closed in late 2014. Transport Victoria (PTV) for information responsible for the operation of the new relating to timetables, train stopping railway line. You can contact PTV by calling patterns and travel times. 1800 800 007 6am to midnight daily.

Printed by Prominent Group, Shepparton Victoria 3630. This newsletter is printed on ‘Sovereign Offset’ stock from K.W. Doggett which is FSC certified and wrapped in biodegradable plastic.

More information Website: www.regionalraillink.vic.gov.au If you require Regional Rail Link information in another language, please call us on 9280 0775 to speak to an interpreter. Email: [email protected]

Phone: 1800 107 925 If you would like to receive this publication in an alternative format, please telephone the Regional Rail Link Authority on 1800 107 925 or email [email protected]. This document @rrlproject is also available in HTML and/or PDF format on the internet at www.regionalraillink.vic.gov.au.

Journey Planning For information on planning your journey during rail disruptions, contact Public Transport Victoria at ptv.vic.gov.au or call 1800 800 007 6am - midnight daily.

Regional Rail Link Regional Rail Link is a major new rail line that will separate regional trains from metropolitan trains – for the first time giving Geelong, Bendigo and Ballarat trains their own dedicated tracks through the metropolitan system from Sunshine to Southern Cross Station. The project is jointly funded by the Australian and Victorian governments.

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