Trains on time

Melbourne's Belgrave Line and Bayswater Train Station reopened just before 5am yesterday following the successful completion of a massive 37 day occupation on the Bayswater Level Crossing Removal project.

A project team comprising Laing O’Rourke, Fulton Hogan and AECOM, in an alliance with Public Transport Victoria, Metro Trains Melbourne, the Level Crossing Removal Authority and VicRoads, carried out the major works as part of the Bayswater Level Crossing Removal project.

Major works delivered during the occupation included:

• Lowering the rail line below Mountain Highway and Scoresby Road
• Raising Mountain Highway at the point of the crossing to allow continued train access to the Train Maintenance Facility behind Bayswater Station
• Rebuilding Bayswater Station and providing platform access via lifts, ramps and stairs
• Building a new bus interchange; and
• Building new dedicated pedestrian and bike paths.

Laing O’Rourke’s digital engineering (DE) tools were applied throughout the planning and delivery of the occupation and in a first for Victoria, the team also utilised DE for early engagement with the local community and stakeholders.

Laing O’Rourke Region Director Pat Cashin said the team’s unique digital engineering approach enabled innovative solutions to be identified, developed and rapidly validated by all project stakeholders and provided an increased confidence of outcomes in terms of cost, programme and quality.

Mr Cashin joined the Minister for Public Transport Jacinta Allan and Member for Eastern Metropolitan Shaun Leane at the new Bayswater Station earlier today to congratulate the project team on a job well done and thank the community for their patience.

“It’s been a massive push by the whole project team, working extremely hard, night and day to get the work done and ready for commuters on time” Mr Cashin said.

“More than 150,000 hours worked, 63,000 cubic metres of fill excavated, 3 new bridges built, 204 pre-cast platform units installed, 164 piles installed, over 1,800 cubic metres of concrete poured, water, gas and telecommunication services relocated, 6,000m of shotcrete installed, 6,000 new sleepers and 3,000m of track installed– a phenomenal effort!

“Minimising disruption to the community, road users and local businesses was another major priority for the project team and I am extremely proud of everything they have worked so hard to achieve.”

Removing the two level crossings and upgrading the Train Station at Bayswater is delivering on the Victorian Government’s promise to remove dangerous level crossings across the State.

Minister Allan said “By the end of summer, four dangerous and congested level crossings will be gone and three more new or upgraded stations will be open, helping people in Melbourne’s east get home safer every day.”

Local MP Shaun Leane added “I’d like to thank the local community for their support and patience during these works while we make Bayswater a better place to live, work and visit.”