South Geelong to Waurn Ponds Rail Duplication

Customer: Rail Projects Victoria Contract: Alliance Location: Geelong, Victoria

Fast Facts 8 km of track duplication and signalling upgrades Two level crossing removals using rail bridges Two new stations

We were are a member of the Djilang Alliance which delivered the South Geelong to Waurn Ponds Rail Duplication, providing more frequent and reliable services and better stations for passengers on Victoria’s busiest regional rail line.  

The alliance was made up of ourselves, Downer, ARUP and WSP.

The duplication includes elevated rail bridges for two level crossing removals, around eight kilometres of track duplication and signalling upgrades.

Key features of the project included: 

• Two grade separations in the form of rail over road bridges to eliminate dangerous level crossings located on Fyans Street and the Surf Coast Highway 
• The upgrading of two stations (South Geelong Station and Marshall), which includes the construction of second platforms, ramps, stairs, lifts and overpasses, the construction of new station buildings and the improvement of forecourts and parking facilities for both stations 
• More than 5 km of new shared user paths linking to existing trails and paths and creating a continuous connection between South Geelong and Waurn Ponds 
• Approximately 8 km of track duplication and signalling upgrades  
• Upgrades to the drainage system within the project area 
• Construction of 2.1 km of two large diameter water pipelines (1085mm OD and 813mm OD) for the local water authority 
• Numerous utility relocations to facilitate construction. 

A Community Focus 

Building on the considerable work already undertaken by Rail Projects Victoria (RPV) in this area, the Alliance developed a strong understanding of the local community to undertake localised engagement plans. The project worked with the Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation, Deakin University, City of Greater Geelong council, and other local stakeholder and community groups to enhance the positive social impact of the project.  

The removal of two level crossings have improved safety for the community at these locations, including the creation of a community space at Fyans Street. The duplication of the rail between South Geelong and Waurn Ponds increased the number of train services during peak travel times, improving services for those in Marshall and Waurn Ponds to and from Melbourne.  

Minimal Disruption 

Djilang Alliance’s track occupation strategy minimised disruptions to network operators, their customers, and local communities as much as possible, while ensuring the project was delivered in a safe and cost-effective manner.  

A key aspect of our strategy was segregating construction works from the live corridor by creating ‘virtual greenfields’ that enabled more works to be carried out during normal train running.