Newsletter July 2013 www.regionalraillink.vic.gov.au

Welcome to this special edition of the Regional Rail Link newsletter In this edition we give you an insight into how we deliver major works on the project through construction windows, known as ‘rail line closures’. Many months of planning take place before we start work in the rail corridor to make sure works run smoothly and people can still get around while construction is underway. Thank you for your understanding regarding bus replacement services as we build this new rail line and improve the public transport network.

Regards, Work during the very first July closure in Tottenham (June 2011).

Fixed periods for rail line closures are preferred to several smaller Corey Hannett disruptions as they allow for a greater amount of work to be done Chief Executive Officer more efficiently. This means the project advances quicker and Regional Rail Link Authority gives commuters the chance to better plan their journeys.

Regional Rail Link rail line From time to time, you may have seen underground services, and building new and posters, letters, newspaper advertisements reconstructing existing bridges and stations. closures – Why do we do it? and more recently tweets informing you of We’ve had some amazing feats of construction an upcoming rail line closure necessary to and engineering during each one of our Using bus replacement services facilitate Regional Rail Link construction. when we close the rail line allows rail line closures, and in this special edition, So why does the rail line have to be closed? we’ll give you a brief pictorial history. Regional Rail Link to carry out the essential work required to advance It’s so that major, essential and time-critical work can be carried out safely when trains The very first closure construction on the project without aren’t running. compromising safety. The first major rail line closure happened Holiday periods like Easter and school during school holidays in July 2011 and Work includes moving existing track and holidays are often good construction formed part of a program of significant and building new rail along with signalling work windows, as they are usually quieter crucial preparatory work that allowed us to and the widening of the rail corridor. times on the rail network and provide advance the project to the next stage. less disruption to commuters. Since major contracts were awarded on this We’re now over half way through the total landmark project in 2011, we’ve already seen Regional Rail Link is a complex infrastructure program of 80 rail line closures that include an enormous amount of visible progress. project and there are many challenges six major rail line closures and 74 weekend All you have to do is jump on a train heading with constructing a new rail line, such as closures. west to see the seeds of a lot of planning and integrating a new signalling system into hard work growing across the corridor. an existing ageing network, relocating Rail Line closures in pictures ...in pictures...in pictures...in pictures...in pictures...

The 200 tonne Dudley Street rail bridge took 3 cranes to put in place and required Dudley Street to be temporarily closed in late December 2011.

Track work between Nicholson and Albert St Footscray. The many sections of concrete you can see are called sleepers, which hold the track together, and also help mitigate the noise between the wheel and rail interface once trains are running. We’ve delivered over 40,000 of these to date! 2 Regional Rail Link – Newsletter ...in pictures...in pictures...in pictures...in pictures...

The work doesn’t stop for Regional Rail Link once the sun goes down. During Easter 2012, the Footscray – Deer Park team worked day and night to undertake partial demolition, overhead structure and wiring works and track installation.

December 2012 and January 2013 was a massive construction time for Regional Rail Link. We undertook a significant amount of work, including construction at Footscray, West Footscray, Tottenham and Sunshine railway stations, track realignment and installation, bridge works and extensive earthworks.

You often can’t see them, but the team at Rail Systems do some crucial work during our occupations. Here they are digging one of the many trenches needed for the installation of conduits and fibre optic cables for Regional Rail Link’s signalling system.

Regional Rail Link – Newsletter 3 ...in pictures...in pictures...in pictures...in pictures...in pictures...in pictures.

The team getting their hands (or machines) dirty with just a small section of the earthworks undertaken between Footscray and Sunshine in December 2012 and January 2013.

The big white machine you can see to the right is called a piling machine and it weighs in at around 70 tonnes with an ability to pile up to 22 metres deep. Here it is helping to construct one of two grade separations at Anderson Road, Sunshine.

4 Regional Rail Link – Newsletter ...in pictures...in pictures...in pictures...in pictures...in pictures...in pictures.

Here’s a great view from Footscray railway station during Easter 2013 where you can see the hard work extending all the way to Nicholson Street and Albert Street (in the distance).

The Southern Cross section took a significant step forward in April this year, with signal installation works being carried out.

Regional Rail Link – Newsletter 5 How we assist rail commuters

As well as working to our construction deadlines during a rail line closure, While you’re on the bus this July Regional Rail Link is carrying out a significant amount there’s also the huge task of of work between Deer Park and Southern Cross Station co-ordinating operations with during school holidays this July. • significant road works to facilitate the removal Metro and V/Line to provide safe of two level crossings on Anderson Road, Sunshine; and reliable travel alternatives for • major bridge works at Dudley Street, West , affected commuters. and Hopkins and Nicholson Streets, Footscray; • continued construction work at railway stations, including Bus replacement services are always in abundance, the installation of the bridge and concourse at the new West with V/Line and Metro staff members on the ground Footscray railway station, platform and footbridge works at to give commuters information about timetables, Footscray railway station, and the installation of the station and guiding travellers to readers and replacement concourse and demolition work on platforms bus stops. 1 and 2 at Sunshine railway station; During major rail closures, those passing through • track works between North Melbourne and Sunshine; can often grab themselves a free breakfast of fruit, coffee and sausages! • retaining wall works in Footscray and Tottenham; and • foundation, overhead, signalling and lighting works. For full details as well as some exciting photos, stay tuned for the next newsletter. Please visit www.regionalraillink.vic.gov.au for details of works in your area.

6 Regional Rail Link – Newsletter During the December and January closure, more than 250 buses transported over 17,000 passengers in each direction each weekday while the rail lines were closed.

Flemington Rotary Club also cooked over 200 kilos of free sausages and handed out over 4,000 pieces of free fruit to commuters.

Over 460 workers spent the Queen’s Birthday long weekend completing major track, bridge & signalling works.

There was also a significant amount of work carried out over the Anzac Day weekend that delivered complex improvements to Melbourne’s rail signalling system.

Replacement buses are in large supply to take commuters where they need to go.

Thanks to Rotary, affected commuters receive a free hot breakfast and some fruit!

Regional Rail Link – Newsletter 7 What’s next?

We’ll also let you know via our E-Newsletter There’s still plenty of work to do to complete which you can subscribe to by visiting our the Regional Rail Link project, and buses will website. continue to replace trains during rail line closures. Twitter is also a great way to stay up to date, so follow us at @rrlproject. Please stay tuned to the Regional Rail Link website for more details.

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 , and 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, with the Commonwealth contributing $3.225 billion and the Victorian Government contributing $1.582 billion.

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