More chaos ahead for Gippsland train users

Gippsland train travellers that have had to endure years of disruptions are facing another extended period when they’ll have to travel on replacement coaches for a six weeks starting early next month.

There’ll be no trains to or from Gippsland from May 4 until June 18.

Regional Rail Revival, the government agency managing the Gippsland line upgrade project, has issued a notice stating work will be undertaken 24 hours a day, seven days a week during the train stoppage.

It states the major components will be track duplication, signalling upgrades, drainage and pavements at the level crossing at Longwarry and commissioning of new signalling infrastructure between Drouin and Nar Nar Goon.

Last week RRR announced the train replacements, initially set down from May 4 to June 8, had been extended by 10 days.

It follows extended periods of evening trains being replaced by buses between the city and Gippsland that will continue until Wednesday of next week, May 1.

There have been numerous occasions of train cancellations, or a combination of train and bus travel, on the line due to metropolitan level crossing removals that started in 2015 and the upgrading of the Gippsland line that began in 2018. In a media release in June 2018 the then Minister for Public Transport, and now Premier, Jacinta Allan gave “late 2022” as a forecast completion date for the Gippsland works.

The lengthy closure of the line for six weeks from early May will be particularly inconvenient for motorists and pedestrians living at, or travelling to and from Longwarry.

The advice in the RRR notice to customers says the level crossing in the town will be closed to all users.

It said heavy vehicles can detour via Nar Nar Goon and light vehicles via Bunyip.

For pedestrians a “temporary bridge” will be built across the platforms at the railway station but RRR pointed out there may be times when they may have to wait to access the bridge.

In a separate advice relating to Bunyip, RRR said there will be continuing works during the train stoppage in May until “early June”.

Among them are installation of a new duplicated track at the station, relocation of the pedestrian crossing and upgrades at the Hope St level crossing.