Sunbury Line Upgrade

Several parts of the state are facing an elevated fire risk this week. Leave Early when the Fire Danger Rating is Extreme or Catastrophic.

Download the VicEmergency app and check the Fire Danger Rating daily.

More information: https://www.emergency.vic.gov.au/

We’ve officially finished our work on the Sunbury Line Upgrade - 6 months ahead of schedule!

While buses replaced trains for 2 weeks during late June and early July, crews worked around the clock to connect the Sunbury Line to the tracks at the Metro Tunnel’s western entrance in Kensington.

Work began on the Sunbury Line Upgrade in 2019. From power and signalling works to platform extensions at 8 stations, new substations, improvements to train stabling and the Gap Road level crossing removal.

These upgrades mean we can now start testing bigger, more modern trains on the line in preparation for the opening of the Metro Tunnel in 2025 - with services running from Sunbury all the way to Cranbourne/Pakenham 🚇🎉

Follow Metro Tunnel to stay up to date with the final stages of the project!

We’re getting ready to link up with the Metro Tunnel ⚒️

While Victoria’s Big Build works take place, buses will replace trains on sections of the Sunbury, Werribee and Williamstown lines from 8pm 20 June until last service 9 July.

During this time, our crews will work around the clock to install and test high-capacity signalling and power equipment, and lay more than 300m of track to join the Sunbury Line with the Metro Tunnel.

There will be further bus replacement services on the Sunbury Line some nights throughout July while we run test trains to prepare for Metro Tunnel passenger services in 2025.

Check before you travel: https://go.vic.gov.au/43Jz8sD

The Gap Road rail bridge in Sunbury, built as part of the Gap Road level crossing removal project, has been shortlisted for the Consult Australia Awards in the Superior Sustainability category 🏆

By improving on the bridge’s original reference design, we reduced emissions equivalent to taking more than 200 cars off the road for a year!

Some of the key features of the final design included:

🌉 Reducing the 4-span design into a 2-span bridge, using fewer materials and less excavation

♻ Where possible, we used recycled glass in place of emissions-intensive materials such as concrete and steel

☀ Increasing safety through clearer sightlines and opening up space to more natural light

🎨 A First Nations artwork, to recognise First Nations culture and heritage.

Read more about sustainable design and the Gap Road rail bridge: https://go.vic.gov.au/3yE0OS1

Trains are back up and running on the Sunbury Line after last weekend’s works 🛠

We successfully switched on the Tottenham substation, the final one to be activated on the line!

The substations will help power bigger, more modern trains to run on the Sunbury Line once the Metro Tunnel opens in 2025 🚆

Thank you for your patience while we delivered these works 🙏

The Footscray West Substation is ready for operation! ⚡

We’re upgrading power on the Sunbury Line to improve the capacity, reliability and frequency of services for passengers.

There’s only one more new substation to be activated on the line to complete these important upgrades 👀

We're not only delivering power, signalling and station upgrades to the Sunbury Line, we're also greening surrounding areas 👩🏽‍🌾

Here's a breakdown of plantings for the Sunbury Line Upgrade so far, with more to come 💚

Gap Road:

🍃 539 grass species
🍃 148 ground cover
🍃 178 shrubs
🍃 10 mature trees.

Sunbury Line:

🍃 600 trees planted in Sunbury
🍃 Around 900 seedlings planted near the new Keilor Plains substation.

Buses replace trains on the Sunbury Line between North Melbourne and Sunshine stations from 8.30pm, Wednesday 8 February to last train on Sunday 12 February 🚍

We'll be working around the clock to prepare the Sunbury Line for bigger, more modern trains and more frequent services once the Metro Tunnel opens in 2025 🛠

For more information, or to plan your journey, visit: https://go.vic.gov.au/3kEu7zU

We're preparing the Sunbury Line for bigger more modern trains and more frequent services 🚆

For works to go ahead safely, buses replace trains on the Sunbury Line between North Melbourne and Sunshine stations from 8.30pm, Wednesday 8 February to last train on Sunday 12 February 🚍

Some of our tasks include:

- Installing signalling upgrades and services
- Overhead line wiring and upgrading overhead structure installations
- Commissioning the West Footscray Substation
- Works to support the commissioning of the Tottenham substation.

For more information, or to plan your journey, visit: https://go.vic.gov.au/3kEu7zU

🚧 Gap Road level crossing removal = improved traffic flow + positive impact on the environment! 🌍

We diverted more than 7650 tonnes of waste from landfill by using recycled materials to build the rail bridge and underpass, including:

♻ 4600 tonnes of crushed concrete
♻ 2500 tonnes of recycled crushed rock
♻ 212 tonnes of manufacturing by-products
♻ 150m of 100% recycled plastic pipe
♻ 660 tonnes of reclaimed asphalt pavement.

All these materials were sourced responsibly from within Victoria, supporting local jobs ✅

We all know good things take time 🕑

Since we started work on the Gap Road level crossing removal, our team has clocked up more than 300,000 work hours! 🤯

We’ve finished off our landscaping, and are continuing minor reinstatement works.

A big thank you to all involved and to the Sunbury community for your patience 👏