Wodonga Rail Bypass

The Wodonga Rail Bypass, was a Victorian State Government project in regional Victoria Australia, to provide a new double-track railway bypass around the northern city of Wodonga. The 5.5 kilometre bypass eliminated 11 level crossings.[1]

Funding

In December 2000, the Federal Government committed $20 million for the bypass project, In the 2006/07 budget, the Government of Victoria set aside $55 million to fund the bypass.[2] In November 2006, the Government of Victoria came to an agreement with Pacific National to buy back the company's lease on the state's rail network, which enabled them to go ahead with the project.[3]

Cost

By January 2007, the estimated cost of the project had risen to $125 million with work starting the bypass being delayed.[4] The project was part of a $501 million upgrade of the North East line.[1]

Construction

Work finally began on the bypass in September 2008,[5] with the Premier of Victoria John Brumby and Federal Infrastructure Minister Anthony Albanese turning the first sod.[1] There were delays in October 2008, when the Dhudhuroa peoples told Federal Minister for Environment Peter Garrett that the works would be likely to desecrate and deface six culturally significant sites, areas and objects.[6]

On 23 July 2010 the new rail bypass was opened, and the original line through Wodonga decommissioned.[7][8][9] On 25 June 2011, the new Wodonga railway station opened.[10][11]

References
  1. Rail freight superhighway comes closer Transport & Logistics News 30 September 2008
  2. Country services restored The Age 30 May 2006
  3. Rail deal done The Border Mail 2 November 2006
  4. Main rail line to get better passing loops The Border Mail 11 January 2007
  5. Work starts on Wodonga bypass Stock & Land 29 September 2008
  6. No more rail delays: MPs The Border Mail 6 October 2008
  7. TAA 0595-2010: Chiltern Loop - Albury South: Commissioning of Wodonga Rail Bypass Australian Rail Track Corporation 19 July 2010
  8. A bypass milestone as freight train ambles in The Border Mail 27 June 2010
  9. First train crosses Wodonga bypass Rail Express 11 August 2010
  10. Communities welcome V/Line trains back to the border Regional Development Victoria 25 June 2011
  11. Communities welcome V/Line tracks back to the border V/Line Voice issue 68 July 2011
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