- Published:
- Sunday 31 May 2015
The multi-billion dollar, Labor-funded Regional Rail Link (RRL) project has taken out two more major awards after winning Infrastructure Australia’s Infrastructure Project of the Year in 2014.
In April RRL took out the 2015 Gold Quill Award for Excellence in Community Relations for their work during nine major rail closures undertaken over the course of the five-year project.
RRL also took out the Australian Construction Achievement Award 2015. Awarded by the Australian Constructors Association and Engineers Australia, the award is one of the most prestigious awards in the Australian construction industry.
RRL is the largest public transport infrastructure project ever undertaken in Victoria, with 90 kilometres of new track, new and upgraded stations, major bridge works and two level crossing removals.
The project provides dedicated tracks for regional trains from Melbourne to Geelong, Ballarat and Bendigo, boosting the capacity and reliability of services from these major regional centres.
By getting regional trains off metropolitan tracks, the project also enables more frequent and reliable Metro services in Melbourne’s growing west.
The project was completed well ahead of time and under budget, with the final cost of the project recently confirmed as $3.65 billion.
Geelong services through Wyndham Vale and Tarneit will begin using the new Regional Rail Link tracks on 21 June 2015.
Regional Rail Link project partners included: AECOM, Balfour Beatty, Coleman Rail, Downer, GHD, John Holland, Jacobs, Leighton, Lend Lease, Metro Trains Melbourne, Parsons Brinkerhoff, RPS, Thiess, UGL, V/Line and the Regional Rail Link Authority.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Transport, Jacinta Allan
“I congratulate everyone involved in this great project – from the designers and engineers, to the builders and community engagement staff on the ground.“
“This outstanding project will deliver more frequent, reliable train services to Melbourne’s booming west and Victoria’s major regional centres, and is a testament to Labor’s strong history of investment in better public transport.”
Quotes attributable to Regional Rail Link CEO, Allen Garner
“This win is a testament to the terrific work undertaken by our construction partners in delivering a massive public transport infrastructure job on time and under budget.”