Train boom project announced

Premier Dennis Napthine chats to Pakenham residents Graham and Robyn McIntosh waiting for a train.

By DANIELLE GALVIN

A MULTI-BILLION dollar upgrade to the south-east rail corridor would deliver trains carrying more people, more often.
Premier Denis Napthine visited Pakenham railway station on Friday afternoon to talk to commuters about the major upgrade and what it would mean for them.
The project cost is estimated between $2-2.5 billion and would deliver 25 new next generation trains, a high-capacity signalling system on the Pakenham and Cranbourne lines as well as a 13,0000 square metre train maintenance depot in Pakenham East.
“What we are here today to highlight is not only the additional services from Pakenham which will move in peak hour services every 7.5 minutes, extra services in the morning and afternoon peaks, providing more services for more people,” he said.
“But also in Pakenham East, we will have a new train stabling facility and a new train maintenance facility which will deliver 300 jobs in the construction phase and 100 ongoing jobs here in Pakenham East.
“This is really important for jobs in this fast growing community – this is about improving commuter services, improving local jobs, improving the opportunity to service the growing community of Pakenham in addition to the growing community of Cranbourne and right along the Dandenong Rail Corridor.”
Transport Minister Terry Mulder said that in 1877, the minister at the time would have been announcing a railway station for Pakenham.
“I think it’s important to understand the significance,” he said.
“One in 10 people who travel on the metropolitan rail network come from these corridors.
“Last year, 13 out of the 25 serious breaches we had occurred on this corridor – and 220 man hours lost because of signal failures.
“That gives you an understanding of the new high capacity signalling system and the new generation trains and what they will mean for these areas.”
Mr Mulder said the Pakenham East Depot would be 13,000 square metres, the equivalent of AAMI Park.
“It will have stabling facilities, it will have a facility for a train wash,” he said.
“It will have a facility for drivers and it will provide a modern state-of-the-art set up.
“The depot will also be able to be expanded.”
Dr Napthine said the south-east was one of the fastest growing employment and population centres in Melbourne.
“The Pakenham and Cranbourne rail corridor serves one in 10 Melburnians and by delivering this project we will provide a more frequent and reliable journey for passengers on both the Cranbourne and Pakenham lines,” he said.
“V/Line Gippsland commuters will also benefit from a more reliable journey with new signalling, providing a smoother journey through the metropolitan area.”
The transformation of the Pakenham and Cranbourne lines would be delivered by MTR, with John Holland Construction and UGL Rail Services, with construction starting in 2015 and concluding in 2019.
More than 3000 jobs will be created during the five-year construction phase and 100 jobs at the new depot.
“This project will remove bottlenecks on our road networks and dramatically improve travel times and productivity for motorists, particularly those who travel on our public bus system,” Mr Mulder said.