Two new stations at Wyndham Vale and Tarneit equipped with lifts, ramps and stairs will spring up in the near future as part of the governments Regional Rail Link project.
The new stations will be situated on the new Werribee to Deer Park line.
The new 26 kilometre track from Deer Park to West Werribee Junction will include no new level crossings and instead come with 12 road over rail bridges. Four major structures will be constructed at Werribee River, Lollipop Creek, Skeleton Creek and Davis Creek. Plans also foresee the extension of Christies Road, and construction of Armstrong Road.
The project is at full speed with the development of existing stations in advanced stages. The existing stations being redeveloped include Footscray, West Footscray, Tottenham and Sunshine.
The Regional Rail Link foresees a growth in capacity to handle up to 9000 more passengers during peak times and allow for a much improved rail service from the growing western suburbs and Geelong.
The cost of the project is set at 4.3 billion dollars with the federal government accounting for 3.2 billion and the state government accounting for 1.1 billion.
"Footscray railway station is being transformed into a modern transport interchange with capacity to manage tens of thousands of regional and suburban passengers daily.
We will upgrade Footscray railway station by:
constructing new escalators and ramps (subject to heritage approval) from the entrances at Irving Street and Hyde Street to the footbridge and to all platforms; stairs and lifts will also be maintained
building new canopies above the station entrances, stairs, escalators and platforms to provide increased shelter
making all platforms accessible and usable for people with disabilities
providing station facilities on Irving Street, including a ticket office, waiting area and restrooms
creating a new public space on Irving Street, with landscaping featuring native grass and tree species, seating, greenery and improved lighting
increasing the number of myki readers to improve the flow of passengers on and off trains
improving safety and security by minimising hidden spaces, increasing passive surveillance and providing extensive CCTV coverage throughout the station and forecourt area
providing secure bicycle parking.
Two new Regional Rail Link tracks through the station and a new platform adjacent to Irving Street will also be built. A new entrance building will complements the heritage of the existing station buildings.
The design of the station responds to the community feedback. You told us that you valued safety, security, lighting and shelter and you wanted to see the forecourt areas improved, with landscaping and greenery. You also told us that you wanted easier access to the footbridge and platforms and improved weather-proofing."
"West Footscray is a vibrant and diverse community, with new residential developments altering the suburb's industrial face.
The rebuilt railway station will be an important part of this change, providing another modern transport hub on the city's western fringe.
Work at the station started in 2012 and will be completed by early 2014.
The existing West Footscray railway station will continue to operate throughout construction, and pedestrian connection across the railway line will be maintained while our work is carried out.
The Rising Sun footbridge and the existing West Footscray railway station overpass will be removed and replaced with a new crossing at the new West Footscray railway station (approximately 160 metres west of the existing station).
Additional improvements will be made to accessibility, safety, connectivity and amenity for the West Footscray railway station precinct.
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Station features
The railway station will be rebuilt approximately 160 metres west of the existing station.
It will feature:
a covered pedestrian and cycle overpass connecting Sunshine Road and Cross Street
stairs, lifts and ramps from the overpass to the station entrances and to all platforms
canopies above the station entrances, stairs and platforms
station facilities on the overpass, including waiting areas and restrooms
landscaped forecourt areas on both sides of the station featuring native grass and tree species, seating, greenery and improved lighting
new car parks (with additional parking on the north side of the station), improved connections to buses, and taxi and drop off zones on both sides of the station
secure bicycle storage
improved pedestrian access to the station, including a signalised crossing on Sunshine Road.
Changes to pedestrian and cycling access
The Rising Sun footbridge (on the east side of Geelong Road) was removed in January 2013 to enable the new Regional Rail Link tracks to be constructed south of the existing electrified tracks.
Over 2,000 letters were sent to local residents in December 2012 to inform them of the removal of the bridge. A number of key stakeholders have been consulted on the works including Footscray Primary School who has been provided with information on alternative routes to the school.
Local residents were also invited to a community barbecue where they could speak with members of the project team about the bridge removal and the changes for pedestrians and cyclists. The project team has also met with individual residents onsite to talk in detail about these changes.
While construction is underway, access across the rail corridor will be maintained via the existing West Footscray railway station overpass and Victoria Street.
When the new West Footscray railway station is complete pedestrians and cyclists will be able to cross the corridor via the new station overpass and Victoria Street.
Review of pedestrian and cycling access
The Footscray – Deer Park project team undertook a review to better understand the implications of removing the Rising Sun footbridge from a technical, economic and community perspective.
As part of this review, community feedback was sought through feedback forms distributed to the 5,500 local residents in the local communities of Footscray, Seddon, Kingsville and West Footscray and an information display was held at the Western Bulldogs Family Day in February 2012 with over 5,000 people attending.
In early 2012, and again in April 2012, pedestrian counts were performed to understand the use of the Rising Sun footbridge, as well as the pedestrian bridge at West Footscray railway station and Victoria Street underpass.
Key aspects and finding included in the review include:
a replacement footbridge cannot be built in the same location as existing due to requirements to cater for mobility impaired users and space considerations
a review of pedestrian travel paths shows that there is very little (if any) difference in distance to key locations as a consequence of removing the Rising Sun footbridge
existing pedestrian usage of Rising Sun footbridge is very low
bicycle Network Victoria support the new West Footscray station footbridge as the principle location of cross-corridor connectivity.
For more information read the Rising Sun footbridge position paper (PDF, 13.1 MB, 84 pp.) prepared by the Footscray – Deer Park project team.
At a council meeting on 21 August 2012, the council acknowledged the need to remove the Rising Sun footbridge and responded positively to the delivery of a range of improvements to accessibility, safety, connectivity and amenity for the West Footscray railway station precinct.
Maribyrnong City Council has prepared a report in support of the Footscray – Deer Park proposal (available from the Council's website) for their Community and Services Special Committee and ratified the decision at a council meeting.
The Footscray - Deer Park project team continues to work closely with Maribyrnong City Council to ensure the works proposed for the West Footscray precinct are consistent with their master planning process, including accessibility, connectivity and safety for the area.
Improvements to cycling and pedestrian links
The Footscray – Deer Park project team has been working with Maribyrnong City Council on improving pedestrian and cycling links in the West Footscray precinct.
These improvements have been informed by Council and community feedback gathered through the project team’s review which helped to identify community concerns and better understand pedestrian and cycling connectivity.
These improvements include:
a new pedestrian overpass at the rebuilt West Footscray railway station that is wide enough for both pedestrians and cyclists
a signalised crossing at Sunshine Road and across the Geelong Road off-ramp for safe access to West Footscray railway station
additional lighting at the Geelong Road underpass and Victoria Street underpass
extension of the shared path and bicycle network from Cross Street to Buckingham Street
full footpath access from the new station to the Geelong Road bus stop
creation of new landscaped areas around the rebuilt station
improved way finding and enhanced signage in the precinct.
A signalised crossing on Sunshine Road will provide safe access to the rebuilt station from the south side of Sunshine Road. We are also exploring the safest option to transfer people from Buckley Street and Kingsville to the signalised crossing. More detail will be provided as the design develops.
This work will be carried out in 2013/14. The new West Footscray railway station overpass will be opened in early 2014."
"We will be giving Tottenham railway station a new face. A new rail bridge over Ashley Street will allow us to deliver improvements to the station.
Station features
Improvements include:
upgrading the station entrance
improving the station forecourt with new landscaping
providing an additional 100 car parking spaces by upgrading the informal car park on Rupert Street and making improvements to the car park on Sunshine Road
improving lighting and CCTV coverage at the entrance and in the car parks, increasing passenger safety.
Two new Regional Rail Link tracks will be built on the south side of the station."
"Sunshine is strategically positioned as an important regional centre for Melbourne's growing west. We will breathe new life into the Sunshine railway station precinct, supporting plans to revitalise the town centre.
We will improve the station precinct by:
constructing a new pedestrian overpass which will be open and well lit, providing a safe connection across the rail corridor for pedestrians and cyclists
configuring the bus interchange to create a friendly, landscaped transport hub and a link to the Sunshine retail district
providing stairs, lifts and ramps from the overpass to all platforms and the station entrances
building new canopies above the station entrances, stairs and platforms to provide increased shelter
making all platforms accessible and usable for people with disabilities
providing new station facilities on the overpass, including a new ticket office, waiting area and restrooms
increasing the number of myki readers to improve the flow of passengers on and off trains
improving safety and security by minimising hidden spaces, increasing passive surveillance and providing for extensive CCTV coverage throughout the station and bus interchange area
improving the car parks at City Place and off Monash Street and upgrading lighting and security
providing secure bicycle parking
These improvements will address community concerns about the safety and appearance of the railway station.
We will also construct two new Regional Rail Link tracks through Sunshine and a new platform on the south side of the station."
"The new railway station at Wyndham Vale will be located between Ballan Road and Manor Lakes Boulevard.
It will be built in a cutting over two kilometres in length up to nine metres deep. A pedestrian overpass will provide a vital link across the cutting to the railway station from Academy Way.
The new railway station at Wyndham Vale will include:
an architect designed station building and landscaping
a bus interchange and taxi rank
'kiss and ride' (pick up/drop off) bays
parking spaces for 400 cars, with the ability to build more spaces as demand grows
two dedicated regional tracks with room for additional tracks for future rail network expansion
bicycle storage cages and external hoops
CCTV cameras on the platforms, station building, forecourts and car park
passenger information displays and clocks on each platform
sustainability features such as solar panels, energy efficient lighting and use of rain water
a baby changing facility
maximised visibility of passengers for station staff by minimising blind spots
permanent safety fencing along the length of the railway cutting in Wyndham Vale
Accessibility
The Wyndham Vale railway station will meet all Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth) requirements and include:
ramp access to the platforms anti-slip surfaces, tactile ground surface indicators and hearing loops
crossfalls on platforms to prevent wheeled equipment, such as prams and wheelchairs, from rolling towards the platform edge
a dedicated wheelchair accessible ticket counter
public toilets, including a dedicated toilet for passengers who use mobility aids.
The toilet will be located in an area that is visible from the ticket office
a waiting room with at least two dedicated seats for passengers with special needs and two dedicated spaces for passengers using mobility aids
station lifts with room for two motorised wheelchairs
dedicated car parking for people with a disability located close to the station entrance
Travelling to and from Wyndham Vale railway station
When Regional Rail Link is complete, V/Line trains travelling between Melbourne and Geelong will be stopping at at Wyndham railway station, allowing passengers to board and alight in either direction.
Timetables and stopping patterns will be determined closer to the completion of the project, based on an assessment of demand and travel patterns.
The new railway station at Wyndham Vale will be in metropolitan Zone 2. Passengers travelling between Wyndham Vale and Melbourne's CBD will pay a Zone 1 & 2 fare, rather than a V/Line fare."
"Tarneit railway station will be located near the intersection of Leakes Road and Derrimut Road.
It will be built at the existing surface level with a pedestrian underpass providing access under the rail line.
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Station features
The new railway station at Tarneit will include:
an architect designed station building and landscaping
a bus interchange and taxi rank
'kiss and ride' (pick up/drop off) bays
parking spaces for 400 cars, with the ability to build more spaces as demand grows
two dedicated regional tracks with room for additional tracks for future rail network expansion
bicycle storage cages and external hoops
CCTV cameras on the platforms, station building, forecourts and car park
passenger information displays and clocks on each platform
sustainability features such as solar panels, energy efficient lighting and use of rain water
a baby changing facility
maximised visibility of passengers for station staff by minimising blind spot
Accessibility
The Tarneit railway station will meet all Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth) requirements and include:
ramp access to the platforms
anti-slip surfaces, tactile ground surface indicators and hearing loops
crossfalls on platforms to prevent wheeled equipment, such as prams and wheelchairs, from rolling towards the platform edge
a dedicated wheelchair accessible ticket counter
public toilets, including a dedicated toilet for passengers who use mobility aids.
The toilet will be located in an area that is visible from the ticket office
a waiting room with at least two dedicated seats for passengers with special needs and two dedicated spaces for passengers using mobility aids
station lifts with room for two motorised wheelchairs
dedicated car parking for people with a disability located close to the station entrance
Travelling to and from Tarneit railway station
When Regional Rail Link is complete, V/Line trains travelling between Melbourne and Geelong will be stopping at the new Tarneit railway station, allowing passengers to board and alight in either direction.
Timetables and stopping patterns will be determined closer to the completion of the project, based on an assessment of demand and travel patterns.
The new railway station at Tarneit will be in metropolitan Zone 2. Passengers travelling between Tarneit and Melbourne's CBD will pay a Zone 1 & 2 fare, rather than a V/Line fare."
Bumper to bumper for 33km, just the standard for residents of the West.
This is how long the traffic queue stretches all the way from the Burnley Tunnel to the Malty Bypass in Werribee.
The Westgate Bridge and its vicinity are no longer the only trouble spots in the mornings, and haven't been for a long time now. The traffic problem has long since spread all the way down the Westgate Freeway down to the fringes of Werribee.
The traffic queue is the equivalent of bumper to bumper traffic from the city all the way to Mernda in the north and from the city all the way to Dandenong in the East which regularly sees trips from out west taking 1 hour (best case) and 2 hours (worst case).
To make matters even worse, it is not just the Westgate that is jammed, the infamous Western Ring Road continues its daily dose of frustration despite its reconstruction.
The blocking of the freeways has inevitably led to the complete halt of major local roads, particularly in the south west, compounding the problem.
Booming Point Cook's limited connectivity has seen all its major roads shutting down during peak hours. Point Cook Road, Palmers Road and Boardwalk Boulevard have all become car parks during the peaks. A little further north, Forsyth and Sayers Road have faced a similar fate which is only going to get worse as Tarneit, Truganina and the areas surrounding Laverton are set to undergo further development.
The redevelopment of Point Cook Road, the reconstruction of the Western Ring Road, the opening of the Palmers Road overpass and Williams Landing Station have seemed to not had as much impact on traffic as first hoped.
With the situation looking gloomy and with things set to get worse, is it time for a second river crossing to be built? Is the East-West Link and Melbourne Metro enough?
The East-West Link is set to go ahead and the first stage completed will be in the East, leaving the the western section to be completed some time in the distant future, if it is even finished at all.
Priority has been given to the east which has not been welcomed by the ever-growing number of residents in the west, fed up with being hard done by due to their position as a safe ALP seat.
Whatever decision is made in the future remains to be known, but what is known is that the State economy is losing a ton of money in lost productivity every single day and that the rapidly expanding West needs urgent attention before the situation become critical.
Footscray is currently under a construction boom which is not planning on slowing any time soon.
The inevitable has finally happened and Footscray's proximity to the city has become too tempting for developers to ignore.
"The Footscray City Edge Masterplan (the Masterplan) has been developed to establish a vision for future Footscray. The Masterplan integrates
open space, greening, access, parking and planning strategies to provide an integrated renewal proposition for Footscray. The Masterplan presents three key themes, Connected City (transport and access)Appealing City (urban design and open space), and a Thriving City (land use and development). Under each theme priorities are listed to implement the plan (refer attachments," lists the City Development Special Committee Report.
Although most of the project incorporates community consultation, the community has no consultation rights under the Priority Development Zone which features much of the Footscray CBD.
Will this change the infamous reputation of Footscray? Is the brand new modern redevelopment welcome, or do you prefer the original, traditional Footscray?
Below are some renders of various projects under construction or under the possibility of construction.
