Upgrades on the Warrnambool line have been brought forward, with works to begin on June 9.
The works involve the replacement of 27,000 timber sleepers with concrete sleepers at a cost of $8.1 million.
V/Line staff and contractors will work through the night in 10-day blocks to renew the line. The work will be focussed on the section of the line between Colac and Waurn Ponds after other upgrade works were done in late 2018 and early 2019 on the section between Warrnambool and Colac.
Although the works will be conducted at night, trains will run slower than normal after the works are complete to allow the sleepers to bed down. Some trains will be replaced by buses. Freight services will operate as normal.
Once works are complete, Minister for Public Transport Melissa Horne said that passengers would enjoy a smoother ride.
“These works help to ensure V/Line can continue to offer a safe, reliable and comfortable experience for passengers who rely on the service.”
The sleepers are being produced by Austrack at their Avalon facility.
“This project is not only going to benefit south-western Victorian public transport users but is supporting local business to get the job done,” said Member for Western Victoria Gayle Tierney.
The Victorian government has been carrying out sleeper replacement works on other regional lines, including a $16.1m program on the Bendigo line that used 48,000 concrete sleepers.