Fast trains won't run on Warrnambool line until at least 2024

The 2021-22 state budget papers show stage two of the Warrnambool Line Upgrade, which will allow for modern VLocity trains to run on the line, is expected to be complete by mid-2024.

The estimated completion date is seven years after the fast trains were first announced in July 2017 as part of a $114 million upgrade to the Warrnambool train line.

Premier Daniel Andrews visited the Warrnambool train station on July 21, 2017, to announce the works, which he said would take 12 to 18 months to complete.

Then in March 2019, Minister for Transport Infrastructure Jacinta Allan told The Standard the works would be done by late 2020.

Now, nearly four years since the Premier's visit, the works are still at the first stage of the project.

A Regional Rail Revival spokesman said construction of stage one, which will make way for a fifth weekday return service, was "still targeted for completion in late 2021".

But the spokesman could not confirm whether the stage one works were on track to be finished in six months or less.

Regional Rail Revival director Mark Havryluk said construction on stage one would continue during a nine-day disruption from Saturday.

Those works will include track installation for the crossing loop in Boorcan and signalling upgrades between Warrnambool and Waurn Ponds.

Member for South West Coast Roma Britnell said the timelines had been "all over the place" since the project was first announced.

"Daniel Andrews stood on the platform at the Warrnambool station in 2017 and said that work on the line would be finished in 2019 and would see VLocity trains running on the line," she said.

"So two years after the Premier said we would have new VLocity trains running to Warrnambool, we are still stuck with trains that are 30-plus years old that aren't fully accessible for people who use wheelchairs and other mobility aids.

"Given how inaccurate the government has been with its timelines for this project so far - I won't be holding my breath one will be pulling up to the platform in 2024."

Ms Britnell said that until the second lot of works were complete, Warrnambool would not have trains fully accessible to the whole community.

"It means people in wheelchairs and using other mobility aids will be stuck on the platform more often than not and forced into a taxi for their trip," she said.

"The state budget didn't include a single dollar to even attempt to convert more carriages to be wheelchair accessible as a stopgap measure.

"This is a state government that says it's for all Victorians but what we see on this key regional project is timeline and cost blowouts and no urgency to make sure regional people with mobility issues have ready access to every single train on the line."

Since the initial announcement in 2017, the total cost of stage one works has blown out to $250 million.

The bill for stage two works currently sits at $260 million with the federal government providing $208 million.

Current works will see coaches replace trains between Warrnambool and Geelong from Saturday until June 13 to allow track and signalling works to take place safely in the rail corridor.

During the disruption crews will continue to install track for the Boorcan crossing loop, as well as trenching and installing underground cabling for signalling upgrades along the line.

More than 2000 passengers used coach services during the most recent disruption in April, with train services resuming as scheduled on April 19.

Track turnouts were installed while coaches replaced trains in April, forming the start of the Boorcan crossing loop.

The 2.2km loop between Boorcan and Oswells roads will make it easier for trains to pass each other, which helps services recover from unexpected delays more quickly, boosting reliability.

Signalling work is now underway at Warrnambool and Sherwood Park stations, to prepare for the installation of the communications and power supply required to support new signalling equipment along the line.

More than 24 kilometres of signalling cable has been installed at locations including Boorcan, Winchelsea, Camperdown, Birregurra, Warncoort, Terang and Colac since construction started on the project last year.

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