Upgrade is on the way

By Glen Atwell
ONE of Australia’s leading construction firms has been awarded the contract to upgrade the Cranbourne railway station.
Thiess Pty Ltd has been given the green light to deliver the first stage of the Cranbourne project, which will include a general facilities upgrade and the construction of new train storage facilities.
Public Transport Minister Lynne Kosky said the signing of the contract marked the beginning of the Dandenong Rail Corridor Project.
“The Cranbourne station works will provide better service for public transport users, including new housing for six trains,” she said.
Ms Kosky said the government had made the new storage facility at Cranbourne a high priority because it could deliver early capacity and reliability improvements for the whole Dandenong rail corridor.
“The new train storage facility at the end of the line will allow for more efficient use of trains. It reduces the impact of a bottleneck at Cranbourne where trains turn around, and eliminates empty train movements from other stabling locations to the end of the line,” she said.
“Commuters are already seeing the benefits of the recently completed Park and Ride facility at Cranbourne station and will further benefit from accessibility and security upgrades at the station.
“The Dandenong Rail Corridor services 15 per cent of Melbourne’s population and that’s why the Brumby Government made it a priority project,” Ms Kosky said.
But Casey-Cardinia Communities for Public Transport spokesman Alex Makin said more needed to be done.
“The Brumby Government speaks of prioritising public transport, but what about the proposed rail station at Lyndhurst?” he asked.
“A refurbishment of Cranbourne railway station is welcome news, but the work must include improved access to and from the station. At the moment the walking tracks are predominantly rock-based and become muddy when wet.
“The growing population also requires the establishment of a new station at Cranbourne East, so there is much work to be done.”
Work on the Cranbourne stabling and station upgrade project is expected to begin soon and be completed by next year.