New station platform at Kerang takes shape
Published: Mon 4 Feb 2019
Kerang train passengers now have access to a new and improved station platform following upgrades completed by V/Line in January.
The regional rail operator spent $1 million renewing the old Kerang platform, which was no longer fit for purpose.
V/Line Executive General Manager Strategy and Program, Colin Taylor, said the new platform surface would be safer for passengers boarding train services.
“This new and improved Kerang platform has improved boarding by reducing the gap between the carriages and the platform,” he said.
“This required us to remove and re-build the platform structure, by removing about 600m3 of soil, installing seven tonnes of steel and laying more than 85 tonnes of asphalt.
“The concrete platform structures were pre-made and delivered to the site by truck, which enabled us to complete the workers faster.”
Mr Taylor said the works were completed on-time and on budget, despite crews enduring temperatures more than 43 degrees Celsius.
“The professionalism and dedication of the work crews to complete the station upgrade in extreme heat is a credit to them,” he said.
“The contractor who completed the works on V/Line’s behalf, MCT Constructions, worked very early hours to beat the heat and ensure the project could be completed on time.”
Loddon Mallee businesses also played a key role in completing the project, supplying soil, steel and asphalt material.
The specialist work crews who completed the platform upgrade used local accommodation over the two weeks they were in Kerang for the project, injecting money in the local economy.
Coaches replaced trains between Swan Hill, Bendigo and Melbourne to enable the platform works to be completed. Minor improvements to drainage and the station entry will be completed in the coming weeks.
This project was part of a broader $8.4 million package of essential maintenance works completed by V/Line on the Bendigo corridor between January 12-27.
To view a time-lapse of the station platform construction, visit the V/Line Facebook page.