Rail Revival Study - Scope - Public Transport Victoria

Rail Revival Study 

Geelong - Ballarat - Bendigo 

Study Scope 

www.transport.vic.gov.au/railrevival


Geelong - Ballarat - Bendigo 

This publication is copyright. No part may be reproduced 

by any process except in accordance with the provisions 

of the Copyright Act 1968. 

© State of Victoria 2011 

Authorised by the Victorian Government, 121 Exhibition St, 

Melbourne Victoria 3000. 

Printed by XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX. 

If you would like to receive this publication in an accessible 

format, such as large print or audio please telephone Public 

Affairs Branch, Department of Transport on (03) 9655 6000. 

2 Rail Revival Study Geelong - Ballarat - Bendigo


Geelong – Ballarat – Bendigo 

Inglewood 

To Robinvale 

Bridgewater 

To Swan Hill 

To Echuca 

Eaglehawk 

Epsom 

Legend 

To Mildura 

Dunolly 

Maryborough 

To Ararat 

Talbot 

Carisbrook 

Moolort 

Maldon 

Distance: 55 km 

Newstead 

Kangaroo Flat 

Victorian 

Goldfields 

Railway 


Harcourt 

Bendigo 

Golden Square 

Castlemaine 

Campbell’s Creek 

Guilford 

Regional City 

Township (with active station) 

Township (publicly disused station) 

Disused track 

Roads 

Regional Rail Link 

Sections 

Geelong – Ballarat 

Ballarat – Maryborough 

Maryborough – Castlemaine 

Melbourne – Bendigo Railway 


Castlemaine – Bendigo 

Clunes 

To Ararat 

Creswick 

Ballarat 

To Seymour 

Melbourne – Ballarat Railway 

Lal Lal 

N 

To Ararat 


Meredith 

Lethbridge 

Bannockburn 

Bell Post Hill 

Melbourne – Geelong Railway 

Melbourne 

North Geelong 

To Warrnambool 

Geelong 

www.transport.vic.gov.au 

Rail Revival Study Geelong - Ballarat - Bendigo 3

1. Purpose 

The purpose of this document is to outline the scope 

of the Rail Revival Study: Geelong-Ballarat-Bendigo 

and provide an understanding of the study’s timing, 

project deliverables and governance arrangements. 

Echuca 

Numurkah 

Yarrawonga 

Tongala 

2. Background 

The Victorian Government has allocated $2 million to 

examine the long-term feasibility of returning passenger 

trains between Geelong, Ballarat and Bendigo (via 

Meredith, Maryborough & Castlemaine) – Victoria’s 

second, third and fourth largest cities. 

This study forms part of the Victorian Government’s 

Transport Solutions framework, which aims to boost 

the efficiency and productivity of Victorian industry and 

enhance regional growth. 

In undertaking the study, the Victorian Government will 

reference relevant regional strategic plans developed 

by local councils and communities. These describe 

key challenges and priorities for local government and 

communities in the ‘Midland Arc’ region, and include the: 

• Central Highlands Regional Strategic Plan; 

• Southern Loddon Mallee Regional Strategic Plan; and 

• G21 Regional Strategic Plan. 

These plans highlight the importance of identifying 

opportunities within the ‘Midland Arc’ to manage and 

facilitate settlement growth and regional development. 

They also articulate short, medium and longer term 

priorities to enhance freight and public transport 

connectivity in this region. 

Kyabram 

Rochester 

Shepparton 

Tatura 

Elmore 

Inglewood Goornong 

Murchison 

Rushworth 

Benalla 

Huntly 

Violet Town 

Eaglehawk 

Toolleen 

Euroa 

Bendigo 

Dunolly 

Heathcote 

Maldon 

Castlemaine 

Maryborough 

Mansfield 

Talbot 

Legend 

Clunes 

Kilmore 

Regional City 

Daylesford 

Township 

Miners Rest Creswick 

Roads 

Gisborne 

Whittlesea 

Rail 

Ballarat 

Sunbury 

Bacchus Marsh 

Buninyong 

Midland arc 

Lilydale 

Melbourne 

Werribee 

Dandenong 

Cressy 

Geelong 

Frankston 

Warragul 

N 

Queenscliff 

Colac 

Rosebud 

Anglesea 

Leongatha 

Lorne 


3. History 

Geelong – Ballarat 

1862 The railway from Geelong to Ballarat was 

opened, operating as the main passenger 

line between Melbourne and Ballarat 

1889 A direct rail route between Melbourne and 

Ballarat was completed 

1978 Passenger services on the line 

were withdrawn and a bus replacement 

service introduced 

1995 The line between North Geelong and 

Gheringhap was converted to dual gauge 

as part of the standardisation of the 

Melbourne-Adelaide railway 

2008 Track upgrading work commenced between 

Geelong and Maryborough as part of the rail 

freight movements on the Mildura line 

NOW 

The Geelong to Ballarat route is currently 

used as a primary freight route to North- 

Western Victoria 

Ballarat – Maryborough 

1875 Ballarat to Maryborough line was opened 

1993 Passenger services were discontinued 

2010 Passenger services were reactivated, with 

a new station constructed at Creswick. 

NOW 

The Ballarat – Maryborough line currently 

has a daily return passenger service 

between Maryborough and Melbourne, 

and is used as a primary freight route 

to North-Western Victoria 

Maryborough – Castlemaine 

1874 Castlemaine to Maryborough line 

was opened 

1978 Passenger services were discontinued 

2004 Services over the line between Maldon 

Junction and Moolort were suspended 

2010 Services over the line between Moolort 

and Maryborough were suspended 

NOW 

The section between Castlemaine and 

Maldon Junction is currently used as 

part of the Victorian Goldfields Railway 

between Castlemaine and Maldon 

Castlemaine – Bendigo 

1862 This section of the Melbourne to Bendigo 

railway line opened 

2005 The line was upgraded to a 160 km/hr 

running speed, although it was reduced 

to a single line in sections 

NOW 

The line currently has capacity restrictions 

due to the single line sections 


6 Rail Revival Study Geelong - Ballarat - Bendigo 

The study will provide 

greater understanding of a 

range of aspects, including 

patronage projections, 

constructability and costs.

4. Project Objectives 

The aim of the study is to investigate: 

• Upgrading the line between 

Geelong and Ballarat for 

regular passenger services, 

and to consider reactivating 

disused railway stations along 

the line serving the towns of 

Bannockburn, Lethbridge, 

Meredith and Lal Lal; 

• Enhanced passenger 

services between Ballarat 

and Maryborough; 

• Reactivating the line between 

Maryborough and Castlemaine 

for regular passenger services, 

and to consider reactivation of 

publicly disused railway stations 

along the line serving the towns 

of Carisbrook and Newstead; 

• Reactivation of passing loops; 

• Upgrading the line between 

Castlemaine and Bendigo 

to remove capacity 

constraints; and 

• An upgrade of sections of 

the corridor to enable high 

speed running. 

The study will also make provision 

for possible future development or 

changes to transport services along 

the corridor in the preparation of 

concept drawings. 

5. Consultation and 

Communication 

It is important that the Rail Revival Study is undertaken 

in consultation with local residents, community groups, 

historical societies, businesses and industry bodies. 

An understanding of stakeholders’ diverse needs, views 

and expectations is integral to the development of the 

study’s ongoing background reports and final output. 

A range of engagement tools will be used throughout 

the study including interviews, briefings, workshops and 

information sessions. 

In addition to briefings to local councils, the study 

team will have regular discussions with and input from 

local government officials on technical and operational 

matters in relation to the study. Consultation with relevant 

regional councils and peak organisations will play a vital 

role in the development of the study reports. 


6. Study Scope 

Cost and Duration 

Total Cost: $2 million 

Duration: mid 2011 – mid 2012 

Phase One – Site Investigations 

& Issues Identification 

The study team and consultants will undertake a number 

of informative studies to identify and assess key issues, 

risks and opportunities including: 

• rail and bus operation planning and services; 

• railway station condition and structural inspections, 

including feature surveys of publicly disused stations; 

• environmental investigations, including flooding and 

geotechnical conditions, flora and fauna surveys; 

• cultural and heritage investigations; 

• infrastructure assessments, including rail 

infrastructure, civil structure and level crossing 

audits; and 

• costing, demand forecasting, economic evaluations 

and risk analyses. 

Phase Two – Feasibility 

Report Development 

Following the initial background investigations, the 

study team will: 

• undertake further technical analyses to increase 

the certainty of the potential project scope, cost 

and timeframes; 

• seek further input from the local community and 

key stakeholders; and 

• draft a final study report. 

The study report will give consideration to potential 

social, economic and environmental impacts of 

restoration, construction, operations and maintenance of 

any proposed works along the study route. 



7. Governance 

The study will be the responsibility of the study team 

appointed by the Department of Transport. The Project 

Director will lead briefings on study progress and 

outcomes to the Department of Transport and the 

Minister for Public Transport as required. 

A Government Interagency Advisory Group comprising 

of representatives from the Department of Transport 

(Public Transport Division), Department of Treasury and 

Finance and Department of Premier and Cabinet will 

facilitate resolution of issues during the study. 


For more information 

If you would like to know 

more about the study, call 

1800 078 387, or email us at 

railrevival@transport.vic.gov.au 

to receive updates about the 

study’s progress. 

Alternatively, visit our website 

www.transport.vic.gov.au/railrevival 


www.transport.vic.gov.au/railrevival 

DOT6118/11

Rail Revival Study - Scope - Public Transport Victoria

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