Jointly funded by the Victorian and Commonwealth Governments, the Regional Rail Link (RRL) project represented the single largest rail investment in Victoria’s history. To improve capacity and reliability and offer new services to the growth areas in Melbourne’s west, the new rail link had to separate regional trains from metropolitan trains for the first time.
The RRL project was divided into six work packages and was delivered using a mix of alliance and design and construct contracts.
Collaborating for Success
Working in an alliance with the Regional Rail Link Authority, Metro Trains Melbourne (MTM), V/Line, Thiess, Balfour Beatty Rail and Sinclair Knight Merz, we delivered the new AU$835m track alignment section from Footscray to Deer Park.
This work package included:
- Design and construction of 7.5 kilometres of new track
- Five kilometres of new overhead wiring
- 10 new rail bridges
- Two road/rail grade separations on Anderson Road
- A new station at West Footscray
- Station upgrades at Footscray and Sunshine
Our innovation design development process allowed the team to review all options early in the project. This meant we could make improvements to the layout of a major station by re-aligning the station overpass and improving the connectivity with population centres on each side of the rail corridor.
The alliance also developed a unique staged construction and occupation regime, which was tailored to suit the suburban, regional and freight rail operations. By using strategies such as major longer occupations (rather than multiple weekends), the team minimised disruptions to the road and rail operations, reduced construction costs, maintained community support and completed the construction three months ahead of schedule.
Benefiting the Community
The Regional Rail Link opened in 2015 increasing the reliability and improving the capacity and offer new services.
