Sydney to Melbourne train services will be replaced by coaches as ARTC closes the entire rail corridor for 96 hours of construction, leading to faster trips.
The Australian Rail Track Corporation will shut down the full Sydney to Melbourne train corridor for four days from 1 May, delivering a major program of track rehabilitation, signalling upgrades and new rail infrastructure between Chullora in western Sydney and Melbourne.
The 96-hour possession runs from 10:30pm on 1 May through to 11pm on 5 May and forms part of ARTC’s $1 billion Network Investment Program, jointly funded with the Australian government. Coaches will replace all NSW TrainLink and V/Line passenger services for the duration.
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Sydney to Melbourne train corridor gets new crossovers
The centrepiece of the shutdown is the installation of two new crossovers at Joppa Junction in the Southern Highlands, a key milestone in the Southern Highlands Overtaking Opportunities project. The crossovers will allow freight and passenger services to move more efficiently along the corridor once operational.
Track rehabilitation at Bargo, Tahmoor and Tennessee in NSW is also scheduled during the possession, targeting improved ride quality, better reliability and reduced travel times. Signalling system upgrades and rail bridge works across the line round out the maintenance scope.
Inland Rail works span eight Victorian sites
Inland Rail will use the same shutdown window to complete construction across eight project sites in Victoria between Wandong and Benalla. Works include demolition of the old Broadford-Wandong Road bridge at Wandong and track lowering at Broadford, Tallarook and Seymour.
The Victorian leg sits within the broader Inland Rail project, which is progressively building the freight connection between Melbourne and Brisbane through regional NSW and Queensland.
What Sydney to Melbourne train passengers need to know
All NSW TrainLink and V/Line services will be replaced by coaches between 1 and 5 May. Passengers should contact Transport for NSW on 13 22 22 or V/Line on 1800 800 007 to plan their journey and check alternate transport arrangements.
ARTC has also warned motorists to stay alert for local traffic diversions near level crossings during the shutdown, with heavy machinery and specialised rail equipment still operating along the line. Noise is expected during both daytime and overnight hours, though the most disruptive work has been limited to daylight where possible.
Part of a broader transformation for rail in Victoria
The corridor closure lands amid a significant wave of rail infrastructure investment across Melbourne, from the Melbourne Airport Rail Link now under construction at Sunshine to tunnelling preparations ramping up on the Suburban Rail Loop’s eastern section. The next generation of Melbourne trains is also due to enter passenger service later this year, replacing the ageing Comeng fleet on three suburban lines.
Once the shutdown wraps up on 5 May, Sydney to Melbourne train services are expected to resume as normal (except a little faster) across the corridor.
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