Violet Town has a new railway platform
Click image to check on progress
Violet Town is sporting a new platform located near Primrose St alongside the existing standard gauge line.
No trains are stopping at this platform yet but we are hopeful that 2010 will see the improved service that is being touted for the Melbourne to Sydney route.
"300km of track will be transferred to the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) who will deliver the project.
The ARTC will take on responsibility for the ongoing operation of the new north-east standard gauge rail line as part of a 45 year lease.
This means V/Line will no longer have responsibility for the maintenance and train control of the Seymour to Wodonga line, but will still operate train services on the line when works are complete.
The South Improvement Alliance, a group of organisations that have been brought together by the ARTC, are undertaking the upgrade works.
Click the image for a driver's view of the platform from Primrose St.
The upgrade includes:
- a major upgrade of the 200km of broad gauge between Seymour and Albury – this includes conversion of track from broad gauge to standard gauge and replacement of timber sleepers with concrete ones
- upgrades to the standard gauge line between Melbourne and Seymour including construction of four new passing loops as well as upgrade works already being undertaken by the ARTC
- an upgrade to three locos and 15 carriages, which will be refurbished and converted to standard gauge
- new platforms at Albury, Avenel, Broadmeadows, Chiltern, Euroa, Seymour, Springhurst, and Violet Town stations
- new stabling, maintenance and washing facilities at Dynon near SCS to be converted for standard gauge locos
- a new station west of Wodonga, which will remove 11 level crossings through the centre of Wodonga"
For more information including timetables go the VLine website, the source of the above quotation.