Tarneit station

A new rail link was opened in Melbourne, Australia, in June which is expected to transform the local rail network and deliver more frequent and reliable trains.

The £1.7 billion project involves new stations at Tarneit and Wyndham Vale and 55 miles of new track aimed at removing major bottlenecks which will benefit the state of Victoria’s regional centres at Geelong, Ballarat and Bendigo.

Three other stations have been upgraded, there are 13 new grade separations and two level crossings have been removed. Cycling facilities have also been improved.

"The completion of this project has seen regional rail services separated from metropolitan rail services, providing additional capacity for passengers across the rail network,” said Warren Truss who is Australia's deputy prime minister and minister for infrastructure and regional development.

"It has also provided an economic boost for Victoria, with an injection of £637 million annually into the Victorian economy during construction and the creation of 3,500 construction jobs."

The project was funded jointly by the Australian and Victorian governments.

"Regional Rail Link transforms our train network, delivering more frequent, reliable trains to Melbourne's booming west and Victoria's major regional centres,” said Daniel Andrews, the premier of Victoria.

RRL