Rail system upgrades will form part of an eight week construction blitz beginning at the end of January, in a push to get the Hurstbridge rail line ready for the 6.5 kilometre North East Link tunnels in Victoria.
The North East Link tunnels from Watsonia to Bullen are part of three major road projects upgrading Melbourne’s freeway network. Other projects include upgrades to the Eastern Freeway and M80 Ring Road, which will include new lanes, smart technology and a connection to the North East Link tunnels.
Buses will replace trains between Heidelberg and Eltham on the Hurstbridge Line from 11pm Friday 31 January until the last service on Thursday 27 March, as crews upgrade a range of operational and rail systems, including track and overhead traction infrastructure, and safety systems.
The installation of a new track slab, overhead lines, and communication and safety systems will be included in the works as well as the building of rail corridor abutments, paving the way for the project to extend the rail tunnel beneath Greensborough Highway.
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As of December 2024, the first of two tunnel boring machines (TMBs) excavated the first kilometre of the North East Link tunnels from Watsonia to Bulleen.
This year, the TBMs will break through near Lower Plenty Road where on and off ramps are being built, before they relaunch underground and continue their journey towards Bulleen.
When complete, the Watsonia rail tunnel will become the third longest in Melbourne, behind the Metro Tunnel and City Loop.
These works put the extended rail tunnel on track for completion in mid-2026 and the three major projects, the North East Link, M80 Ring Road and Eastern Freeway upgrades, on track for completion in 2028.
For more information, visit: https://bigbuild.vic.gov.au