Construction blitz to shut sections of Melbourne’s train network

A miserable Monday is in store for Melbourne commuters, who have been told to arrive an hour earlier as four train lines shut down for a major winter construction blitz. These are the affected lines.

A shutdown of Melbourne’s train network is set to give commuters a headache, with Metro telling travellers to leave an hour earlier if they want to get to work on time.

Trains on the Cranbourne, Pakenham and Frankston line have been impacted since Saturday, with buses replacing services between Caulfield and Flinders St for a week.

This is coupled with a shutdown of the Sandringham line on weekends.

The blitz includes:
• Cranbourne and Pakenham lines: Buses replacing trains between Flinders St and Caulfield;

• Frankston and Stony Point lines: Buses replacing trains between Flinders St and Caulfield;

• Sandringham Line: Buses replacing trains between Flinders St and Sandringham; and,

• Gippsland Line: Coaches replacing all trains between Southern Cross and Traralgon/Bairnsdale.

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Football fans were affected by the public transport shutdown over the weekend. Picture: Mark Dadswell

In a bid to ease the pain, Gippsland passengers will be offered free travel.

In Carrum, a temporary track is being built so trains can continue to run while works are carried out.

However, buses will be in use between Mordialloc and Frankston from July 20 to 28 while the temporary structure is put in place.

On the Mernda line, trains run will run express through Reservoir from July 20 to August 4 to make way for a new elevated station.

Minister for Public Transport Melissa Horne said the shutdowns were necessary.

“I thank passengers for their patience while we deliver these vital works and encourage them to plan ahead and allow extra time to get where they’re going,” she said.

Work is also underway on a ramp that will connect Sunbury line trains into the Metro Tunnel, marking an important milestone in the long-term project.

A winter construction blitz will see sections of Melbourne’s train network shut down, causing pain for many commuters in the southeast.

Acting Premier Lisa Neville said: “We’re building the entrance to the Metro Tunnel, which will carry more trains, more often into the heart of the city and across the suburbs.

“It’s part of the massive winter construction blitz that will also see work to remove dangerous level crossings on the Frankston and Mernda lines ramp up.”

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While most of the work will impact train commuters there will also be upgrade works to tram tracks and overhead wiring along St Kilda Rd and Fitzroy St from July 19 with buses to replace routes along the affected areas.

For more information visit ptv.vic.gov.au or vicroads.vic.gov.au

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