Site investigations, including geotechnical drilling, are taking place in Werribee to support planning to refine the scope, cost and timing of the first stage of the Geelong Fast Rail project.
The $4 billion project’s first stage will deliver faster rail services between Geelong and Melbourne’s CBD with a travel time of about 50 minutes.
Stage one of the project is proposed to deliver a new rail track dedicated to regional services between Werribee and Laverton, with works expected to commence in 2023 subject to state and federal planning approvals.
As part of the investigations taking place at the moment, geotechnical drilling is underway in the car park on the north side of Werribee train station.
About 13 boreholes will be drilled across a three-week period, with works expected to be completed by December 10.
Up to 18 car parks at a time will be temporarily closed during the works, to ensure the safety of the public and workers.
Since starting in July this year, the project team has already completed the drilling of almost 60 boreholes.
More than 430 metres of drilling has been carried out within the Werribee corridor, as part of the geotechnical investigations – the equivalent length of almost nine Olympic-sized swimming pools.
The first stage of Geelong Fast Rail has received a funding commitment of $2 billion each, from both the federal and state governments.
More than 2800 jobs are expected to be created during construction.
Geelong Fast Rail director, Mark Greener said the team was “making great progress in our geotechnical investigations to support the first stage of Geelong Fast Rail”.
“It’s not only Geelong Line commuters who will benefit from this project, which is a key step in the Western Rail Plan – proposed works along the Werribee corridor include upgrades to Werribee station,” he said.
The Western Rail Plan sets out a range of objectives needed to deliver a faster, high-capacity rail network servicing Victoria’s growing outer suburbs and regional cities.
The plan has been supported with $130 million from the state and federal governments for detailed engineering and design work, which is being undertaken by Rail Projects Victoria alongside the planning for the Melbourne Airport Rail.
