$679m worth of contracts for VIC Cranbourne Line Upgrade awarded

The next stage of Victoria’s Cranbourne Line Upgrade is one step closer to construction as two major contracts get awarded for works on the project that will deliver better and more reliable train services for Melbourne’s south east. 

The contracts have a combined value of $679 million and have been awarded to: 

• The alliance between McConnell Dowell, Arup, Mott MacDonald and Metro Trains Melbourne which will undertake track duplication between Dandenong and Lynbrook and level crossing removal at Greens Road 
• The alliance between Laing O’Rourke, Jacobs and Metro Trains Melbourne which will undertake track duplication between Lynbrook and Cranbourne; build the new Merinda Park Station; and upgrade the Lynbrook Station parking 

“With 11 level crossings already removed along the Cranbourne line, we’re getting on with delivering better services to more people in Melbourne’s growing south east. 

“Whether it’s road or rail – we're delivering big project to keep people [in] the blooming south east moving,” Minister for Transport Infrastructure Jacinta Allan said. 

With this upgrade, the Cranbourne line is going to be the first rail line to be level crossing-free, which will help ease congestion as well as transform road and rail in Melbourne’s south east. 

Works to be delivered under this stage of the Cranbourne Line Upgrade will include: 

• Duplicating eight kilometres of track between Dandenong and Cranbourne, including power and signalling upgrades 
• Building new rail bridges to remove the Greens Road level crossing 
• Duplicating rail bridges over Abbotts Road and Eumemmerring Creek 
• Building a new Merinda Park Station, including two platforms, a new pedestrian underpass and better weather protection 

Once the upgrade is completed, trains will be able to run every 10 minutes. The Cranbourne Line Upgrade – together with the Metro Tunnel and the new High Capacity Metro Trains - will also open up room for approximately 121,000 extra passengers each week, during peak hours, on the Cranbourne and Pakenham lines. 

The upgrade is due to be completed in 2023 and it is anticipated to pave the way for the proposed line extension to Clyde and the removal of existing single-track bottlenecks on the Cranbourne line. 

“The Cranbourne Line Upgrade is just one of a suite of major road and rail projects easing congestion, improving safety and making journeys more reliable in the south east,” Member for Cranbourne Pauline Richards said. 

Get the latest industry news and project updates straight to your inbox by subscribing to the Felix Project News today. 

Source: Premier of Victoria; Victoria’s Big Build; Level Crossing Removal Project; Inside Construction