- Minister for Transport Infrastructure
Waurn Ponds passengers can look forward to a better train station and more train services, with an upgrade of Waurn Ponds Station being delivered as part of the $110 million Geelong Line Upgrade Stage 1.
The concept designs for the station upgrade released today include more than 200 new and upgraded car parking spaces, better security, and more myki readers and better passenger information.
The upgrade will deliver more than 90 new car parking spaces west of the station – between the rail line and Bodega Street – and seal 120 existing gravel spaces nearby and boost the number of disability parking spaces. A new drop off zone will also be created, and secure bike storage will be installed on the south side of the station –making it quicker and easier for everyone in the community to get to the station by car or bike.
The Waurn Ponds Station upgrade will build a second platform on the south side of the station – with an accessible pedestrian overpass connecting it to the existing platform.
It’s part of the Labor Government’s record investment in better services for Geelong and Victoria’s south west. Work is already underway on the $114 million Warrnambool Line Upgrade, which will boost services, improve reliability and pave the way for modern VLocity trains to run all the way to Warrnambool for the first time.
Rail Projects Victoria is seeking feedback from the Waurn Ponds community on the station upgrade, which will inform the final designs.
And just days ago the Victorian and Commonwealth Government’s signed off on the Melbourne Airport Rail Link project – which will pave the way for fast rail to Geelong, through the Andrews Labor Government’s Western Rail Plan.
The missing link is the Waurn Ponds Duplication Project, which will build a second track between South Geelong and Waurn Ponds, deliver new stabling and remove level crossings at Fyans Street and Surf Coast Highway.
The significant extra capacity these upgrades will deliver will enable faster, more frequent and reliable train services from Waurn Ponds all the way to Melbourne – the next step towards fast rail to Geelong.
The Business Case for the Waurn Ponds duplication project was submitted to Infrastructure Australia in May last year, and in August the Labor Government announced it would provide $147 million towards the project. Despite this, the Morrison Liberal Government haven’t stumped up their share of the funding.
As noted by Minister for Transport Infrastructure Jacinta Allan
“These upgrades will make Waurn Ponds station safer, more user-friendly and easier to get to – and is part of our massive investment in better train services to Geelong and Victoria’s south west.”
“The Waurn Ponds duplication is the major missing link in Geelong’s rail network and we want to partner with the Federal Government to deliver it.”
As stated by Member for Geelong Christine Couzens
“We need funding from the Federal Government, not just promises. The Waurn Ponds duplication is essential to delivering faster services, more often to Geelong – it’s time to get it done.”
As stated by Member for South Barwon Darren Cheeseman
“Sarah Henderson needs to stop talking and start delivering on this project. We’ve stumped up our share of the funding, now the Federal Liberal Government needs to deliver theirs.”
