Another instalment in my photos from ten years ago series – this time it is August 2009.
Lots of construction
On the Craigieburn line, a new $38 million railway station was taking shape at Coolaroo.
While at Craigieburn the second platform was being prepared for the use of suburban trains.
Both projects were originally intended to be part of the Craigieburn Rail Project completed in 2007, but descoped to a lack of funds.
Down on the Werribee line the $92.6 project to add a third platform to Laverton station was well underway.
The old ramp was ready to be demolished.
To be replaced by a steep set of stairs, and unreliable lifts that are too small to take an ambulance stretcher.
Work was also well underway on the new footbridge at Footscray station, with the site cleared.
And the first bridge span waiting to be lifted into place.
And a short distance away at Sunshine a different rail bridge was under construction.
Costing $15 million, the 8 span 220 metres long ‘Brooklyn Sunshine Triangle Bridge‘ enabled freight services from the north and west of Victoria to pass through Melbourne, removing the need for trains to stop at Tottenham Yard and reverse direction.
Regional Rail Link kicks off
August 27 saw the media circus roll into Southern Cross Station, as state and federal politicians turned the first sod for the Regional Rail Link project.
The crowd of minders having arrived an hour earlier, including a construction worker charged with making sure the pile driver was spotless.
The politicians and media scrum had to make their way through the old Spencer Street subway.
Where they emerged at the future platform 15/16.
Victorian Premier John Brumby, Federal Infrastructure and Transport Minister Anthony Albanese and Victorian Public Transport Minister Lynne Kosky were there.
Where they slowly raised and lowered a pile driver head.
I also headed out to Wyndham Vale, where a long empty strip of land marked the site of the future station.
Dennis Family Homes, developer of the Manor Lakes estate, couldn’t believe their luck – their advertised ‘transport link’ was actually happening.
The new line opened to passengers in June 2015.
Around Melbourne and Geelong
At first glance Southern Cross Station didn’t look that different, with promotional stands blocking the main entrance.
But from up top the view was different – one could enjoy a drink in the bar, as late evening commuters trickle in.
The bar and food count on level 1 of the Collins Street concourse closed in 2011, replaced by a Woolworths supermarket.
Out in the boondocks of Campbellfield I crossed over the Western Ring Road onboard an Upfield line train.
The freeway has gone from six to eight lanes, upgraded by the ‘Tulla Sydney Alliance’ in May 2013 but the railway line is still single track, despite the removal of the nearby Camp Road level crossing in 2018.
While on the western edge of Geelong I drove out to the newly developed ‘Highview Estate’ in Highton, where houses were taking over the Barrabool Hills.
Today the fields are covered with houses, with many of the residents probably driving to Melbourne for work via the recently completed Geelong Ring Road.
And a few trains
August 2009 saw me take a ride around suburban Melbourne with Steamrail Victoria, with our seam train visiting Cranbourne, Upfield, Craigieburn and Williamstown.
I also followed a Connex Melbourne train through the open countryside of the Ballarat line.
The train was bound for the Alstom Ballarat workshops for upgrades to the passenger information and CCTV systems.
Also in Ballarat I found two accident damaged Comeng suburban trains.
Both have since been scrapped – carriage 1109T having been damaged in the 2002 Epping collision while carriage 553M was destroyed by fire in 2002.
And to finish – we see the Maryvale paper train waiting at North Dynon, before another trip east.
And another load of grain headed west from Geelong, with a rainbow overhead.
Footnote
Here you can find the rest of my ‘photos from ten years ago‘ series.
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