Dandenong railway line triplication
Encyclopedia
The Dandenong railway line triplication project is an initiative of the state government of Victoria, Australia, to add sections of a third railway line from Caulfield
to Dandenong to expand the capacity of and relieve congestion on the Pakenham railway line, part of the Melbourne
suburban rail network.
The project has undergone a reduction in its scope since being announced in 2006. The triplication was initially planned to extend for the entire Caulfield-Dandenong section of track, but in July 2008 it was announced that it was "unlikely" there would be a third rail track for the full length. According to VicRoads
the more likely outcome would be that there would be three tracks for some sections and the existing two tracks in others. The Department of Transport has also reportedly amended its website to state it would undertake a program that included the addition of "sections of third track".
The network has been plagued with problems of overcrowding after a surge in passenger numbers, as well as increasing train delays and cancellations, with much of the cause being attributed to bottlenecks in the network, chiefly on the Pakenham line.
The 2007-08 State Budget allocated $37 million of its $362 million train package for the first stage of the project, which funded construction work at Cranbourne station of stabling, a station upgrade and additional parking.
The second stage, due to begin in 2009, will include additional train stabling at Westall station and a 2.7 km section of third track between Centre Rd and Springvale Rd. The 2008-09 State Budget allocated $153 million for the Westall project, claiming it would allow "short starter trains" to start and finish their journeys at Westall, running behind express trains from Cranbourne or Pakenham and helping to even out passenger numbers across services on the line.
Later stages will include the construction of a third track between Caulfield station and Springvale station (commencing by 2011), station upgrades and construction of a third track between Springvale and Dandenong (commencing between 2011 and 2016).
Bob Annells, chairman of Connex Melbourne
, which had at the time a State Government franchise
to operate all suburban passenger rail services
in Melbourne
, has warned that there will be "considerable disruption" to rail services during the infrastructure works. A report on the ABC current affairs television program
Stateline claimed the capital works project intended to reduce overcrowding and improve reliability "will mean things get worse before they get better".
The allocation of funding in the May 2007 Budget for works only at Cranbourne, 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) from the nearest section of the proposed third track, prompted speculation that the line was in doubt. The Age
newspaper quoted "a source close to the Government" saying the Government had "gone quiet" on the triplication project in the Budget and that Treasurer John Brumby
had commissioned a review because he was not convinced it was value for money.
The triplication was mooted in the 2001 State Budget and the 2005-2006 Budget allocated an initial $25 million for “consultation, planning and development work on public transport options for the Dandenong growth corridor”. In a statement to the Victorian Parliament’s Public Accounts and Estimates Committee in May 2007, Transport Minister Lynne Kosky
described the triplication as “a huge project; 15 per cent of the travelling metropolitan population actually use that line, so it services an area of more than half a million people.”
s are being considered as one mitigation measure, but it is yet to be determined whether they are included or not, and how many.” Her comments on grade separations were contradicted a month later by a government transport spokesman in a newspaper article on the traffic congestion at the level crossing on Murrumbeena Rd adjacent to Murrumbeena station. The spokesman, Bill Kyriakopoulos, said grade separation at Murrumbeena “was not being considered as a long-term solution”.
The last grade separation on the Melbourne suburban train network was at the Middleborough Rd level crossing in Box Hill
. The project, carried out in January 2007, cost $54.3 million.
A report on the track and its impact on traffic delays and congestion in the City of Glen Eira
was presented to the Glen Eira City Council on July 22, 2008 following a meeting between representatives of council and VicRoads
on May 27, 2008. VicRoads advised the council that it was unlikely a third track would be installed for the "entire length" of the line. The more likely outcome would be that there would be three tracks for some sections and the existing two in others. It said modelling to deal with subsequent road traffic congestion was to be undertaken on three options: Grade separation on (1) none of Glen Eira's roads, (2) all of Glen Eira's roads and (3) some of Glen Eira's roads. The third option would have the effect of channeling further traffic volumes on to any roads that were grade separated from the railway lines. The council concluded that it was not in the interest of VicRoads or the council to have intolerable levels of traffic congestion, and that it expected there would be detailed impact statements prepared, public submissions sought and the range of options examined by an independent panel appointed by the Transport Minister.
to Flinders Street Station
as an alternative. In a report titled Getting Melbourne’s Rail System on Track, it described the triplication project as “ambitious” and said it would “not only be expensive but also unleash years of major disruption on the line”.
The project was also opposed in a report by Dr Paul Mees of the Urban Planning Program, University of Melbourne
, who concluded it was “an expensive distraction from the real issues. The problems of overcrowding, late running and cancellations are actually a result of poor timetabling and management, not of infrastructure limitations. The problems could be solved quickly and inexpensively if the real problems were dealt with forcefully.” Mees advocated the use of spare platforms at Dandenong and Oakleigh stations and proposed a possible new timetable, which included city-bound trains passing through level crossings at stations such as Murrumbeena at the rate of 22 per hour between 7.30 and 8.30am.
The Victorian Liberal Party
's 2006 election policy statement branded the triplication plan as "another example of (the Bracks Labor Government's) mismanagement and an inability to run major projects". The party proposed spending $3 million on investigating simpler, less expensive options to relieve congestion, including the construction of
passing loops at various points such as Berwick
and Springvale. It said problems on the line could also be overcome with improved timetabling.
Caulfield, Victoria
Caulfield is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 12 km south-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Glen Eira...
to Dandenong to expand the capacity of and relieve congestion on the Pakenham railway line, part of the Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
suburban rail network.
The project has undergone a reduction in its scope since being announced in 2006. The triplication was initially planned to extend for the entire Caulfield-Dandenong section of track, but in July 2008 it was announced that it was "unlikely" there would be a third rail track for the full length. According to VicRoads
VicRoads
VicRoads or the Roads Corporation of Victoria is a statutory corporation which is the state road and traffic authority in the state of Victoria, Australia. It is responsible for maintenance and construction of the state arterial road network, as well as driver licensing and vehicle registration. ...
the more likely outcome would be that there would be three tracks for some sections and the existing two tracks in others. The Department of Transport has also reportedly amended its website to state it would undertake a program that included the addition of "sections of third track".
Scope and aims of the project
The project was announced in 2006 as part of a major public transport policy statement called Meeting Our Transport Challenges and is estimated to cost as much as $1 billion. The triplication project was a major part of a $2 billion investment in rail infrastructure announced in Meeting Our Transport Challenges, which the document described as "the biggest investment in the rail network since the construction of the City Loop, to deliver a substantial boost in the capacity of Melbourne’s rail network".The network has been plagued with problems of overcrowding after a surge in passenger numbers, as well as increasing train delays and cancellations, with much of the cause being attributed to bottlenecks in the network, chiefly on the Pakenham line.
The 2007-08 State Budget allocated $37 million of its $362 million train package for the first stage of the project, which funded construction work at Cranbourne station of stabling, a station upgrade and additional parking.
The second stage, due to begin in 2009, will include additional train stabling at Westall station and a 2.7 km section of third track between Centre Rd and Springvale Rd. The 2008-09 State Budget allocated $153 million for the Westall project, claiming it would allow "short starter trains" to start and finish their journeys at Westall, running behind express trains from Cranbourne or Pakenham and helping to even out passenger numbers across services on the line.
Later stages will include the construction of a third track between Caulfield station and Springvale station (commencing by 2011), station upgrades and construction of a third track between Springvale and Dandenong (commencing between 2011 and 2016).
Bob Annells, chairman of Connex Melbourne
Connex Melbourne
Connex Melbourne was a wholly owned subsidiary of French company Veolia Environnement, which had a franchise from the State Government of Victoria to operate all suburban passenger rail services in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. In August 2007, Connex's contract was extended to 30 November 2009....
, which had at the time a State Government franchise
Franchising
Franchising is the practice of using another firm's successful business model. The word 'franchise' is of anglo-French derivation - from franc- meaning free, and is used both as a noun and as a verb....
to operate all suburban passenger rail services
Railways in Melbourne
The Melbourne rail network is operated by Metro Trains Melbourne under franchise from the Government of Victoria. The network is based on a commuter rail model centred on the Melbourne Central Business District and Flinders Street Station, rather than a rapid transit model, with a focus on...
in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, has warned that there will be "considerable disruption" to rail services during the infrastructure works. A report on the ABC current affairs television program
ABC News and Current Affairs
ABC News and Current Affairs is the name of the division of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that controls content classified as news, public affairs and business and finance....
Stateline claimed the capital works project intended to reduce overcrowding and improve reliability "will mean things get worse before they get better".
The allocation of funding in the May 2007 Budget for works only at Cranbourne, 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) from the nearest section of the proposed third track, prompted speculation that the line was in doubt. The Age
The Age
The Age is a daily broadsheet newspaper, which has been published in Melbourne, Australia since 1854. Owned and published by Fairfax Media, The Age primarily serves Victoria, but is also available for purchase in Tasmania, the Australian Capital Territory and border regions of South Australia and...
newspaper quoted "a source close to the Government" saying the Government had "gone quiet" on the triplication project in the Budget and that Treasurer John Brumby
John Brumby
John Mansfield Brumby , is an Australian Labor Party politician who was Premier of Victoria from 2007 to 2010. He became Premier after the resignation of Steve Bracks. He also served as the Minister for Veterans' Affairs and the Minister for Multicultural Affairs. He contested his first election...
had commissioned a review because he was not convinced it was value for money.
The triplication was mooted in the 2001 State Budget and the 2005-2006 Budget allocated an initial $25 million for “consultation, planning and development work on public transport options for the Dandenong growth corridor”. In a statement to the Victorian Parliament’s Public Accounts and Estimates Committee in May 2007, Transport Minister Lynne Kosky
Lynne Kosky
Lynne Janice Kosky is a former Australian politician and senior minister in the Parliament of Victoria. She represented the electoral district of Altona in the Victorian Legislative Assembly for the Australian Labor Party from 1996 to 2010...
described the triplication as “a huge project; 15 per cent of the travelling metropolitan population actually use that line, so it services an area of more than half a million people.”
Land acquisition and impact on road traffic
Ms Kosky said the project would involve land acquisition “and we do not know exactly what those requirements are at this stage.” She said: “We are also yet to assess the impact to level crossings on the corridors, because there is the capacity to actually reduce some of the number of level crossings, so grade separationGrade separation
Grade separation is the method of aligning a junction of two or more transport axes at different heights so that they will not disrupt the traffic flow on other transit routes when they cross each other. The composition of such transport axes does not have to be uniform; it can consist of a...
s are being considered as one mitigation measure, but it is yet to be determined whether they are included or not, and how many.” Her comments on grade separations were contradicted a month later by a government transport spokesman in a newspaper article on the traffic congestion at the level crossing on Murrumbeena Rd adjacent to Murrumbeena station. The spokesman, Bill Kyriakopoulos, said grade separation at Murrumbeena “was not being considered as a long-term solution”.
The last grade separation on the Melbourne suburban train network was at the Middleborough Rd level crossing in Box Hill
Box Hill, Victoria
Box Hill is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 14 km east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Whitehorse. At the 2006 Census, Box Hill had a population of 8,616....
. The project, carried out in January 2007, cost $54.3 million.
A report on the track and its impact on traffic delays and congestion in the City of Glen Eira
City of Glen Eira
The City of Glen Eira is a Local Government Area in Victoria, Australia. It is located in the south-eastern suburbs of Melbourne. It has an area of 38.4 square kilometres and has a estimated population of 136,354 people...
was presented to the Glen Eira City Council on July 22, 2008 following a meeting between representatives of council and VicRoads
VicRoads
VicRoads or the Roads Corporation of Victoria is a statutory corporation which is the state road and traffic authority in the state of Victoria, Australia. It is responsible for maintenance and construction of the state arterial road network, as well as driver licensing and vehicle registration. ...
on May 27, 2008. VicRoads advised the council that it was unlikely a third track would be installed for the "entire length" of the line. The more likely outcome would be that there would be three tracks for some sections and the existing two in others. It said modelling to deal with subsequent road traffic congestion was to be undertaken on three options: Grade separation on (1) none of Glen Eira's roads, (2) all of Glen Eira's roads and (3) some of Glen Eira's roads. The third option would have the effect of channeling further traffic volumes on to any roads that were grade separated from the railway lines. The council concluded that it was not in the interest of VicRoads or the council to have intolerable levels of traffic congestion, and that it expected there would be detailed impact statements prepared, public submissions sought and the range of options examined by an independent panel appointed by the Transport Minister.
Opposition
The triplication project has been opposed by Melbourne public transport lobby group, the Public Transport Users Association, which advocated the alteration of stopping patterns and an increase in trains running directly from Richmond stationRichmond railway station, Melbourne
Richmond is a railway station in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, located in the suburb of Richmond. It is classed as a Premium Station and is in Metcard Zone 1.-Facilities:...
to Flinders Street Station
Flinders Street Station
Flinders Street Station is the central railway station of the suburban railway network of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It is on the corner of Flinders and Swanston Streets next to the Yarra River in the heart of the city, stretching from Swanston Street to Queen Street and covering two city...
as an alternative. In a report titled Getting Melbourne’s Rail System on Track, it described the triplication project as “ambitious” and said it would “not only be expensive but also unleash years of major disruption on the line”.
The project was also opposed in a report by Dr Paul Mees of the Urban Planning Program, University of Melbourne
University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne is a public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. Founded in 1853, it is the second oldest university in Australia and the oldest in Victoria...
, who concluded it was “an expensive distraction from the real issues. The problems of overcrowding, late running and cancellations are actually a result of poor timetabling and management, not of infrastructure limitations. The problems could be solved quickly and inexpensively if the real problems were dealt with forcefully.” Mees advocated the use of spare platforms at Dandenong and Oakleigh stations and proposed a possible new timetable, which included city-bound trains passing through level crossings at stations such as Murrumbeena at the rate of 22 per hour between 7.30 and 8.30am.
The Victorian Liberal Party
Liberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
's 2006 election policy statement branded the triplication plan as "another example of (the Bracks Labor Government's) mismanagement and an inability to run major projects". The party proposed spending $3 million on investigating simpler, less expensive options to relieve congestion, including the construction of
passing loops at various points such as Berwick
Berwick railway station, Melbourne
Berwick is a railway station in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, located in the suburb of Berwick, on the Pakenham railway line. Berwick is classed as a Premium Station and is in Metcard Zone 2.-Facilities:...
and Springvale. It said problems on the line could also be overcome with improved timetabling.