Construction set to begin on a new station for Caroline Springs

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The Victorian Coalition Government will start construction on a new $32 million Caroline Springs railway station later this year, Minister for Public Transport Terry Mulder announced. 

The station will be located between Deer Park and Rockbank stations on the Ballarat line, about one kilometre south of the major Caroline Springs housing estate.

“The new Caroline Springs station will be completed in 2016, when we expect more than 1,500 people a day will enjoy having their own brand new station to commute from,” Mr Mulder said.

“After fixing the former Labor government’s budget failures, Caroline Springs station is now back on track.  It will be bigger and better than originally planned, with 150 more car parking spaces bringing the total to 350,” Mr Mulder said.
Mr Mulder said the Coalition government had inherited several budget problems from the former Labor government, including no money for Regional Rail Link trains, no money for Regional Rail Link signals, and no money for sufficient power to supply new stations at Lynbrook and Cardinia Road.

“The former Labor government didn’t do its sums properly for the Cardinia and Lynbrook stations, which means trains could arrive there but, without power substations, they wouldn’t be able to power up to take off and leave the station,” Mr Mulder said.

“Now that we’ve rectified Labor’s financial mismanagement, the Caroline Springs station can get underway,” he added.

Mr Mulder said the Coalition Government had to fix similar Labor budget problems on the Regional Rail Link, which did not have money for trains or signals.

“The Coalition’s sound project management is nowhere more evident than on the award winning Regional Rail Link, which is now ahead of time and on budget,” Mr Mulder said.

He added that 43 new VLocity railcars for V/Line have been ordered and the government has made sure that the new signalling is funded. Extra V/Line weekday peak trains from Bacchus Marsh in the morning and to Melton in the afternoon have also been introduced. From 1 January 2015 under a re-elected Victorian Coalition Government, the maximum Melbourne metropolitan fare will drop from $12.12 today to under $8 due to the Coalition’s ‘capping’ of Zone 1 plus 2 fares at a maximum of the applicable Zone 1 fare, Mr Mulder said. The cheaper Zone 2 only fares will remain for passengers travelling between Caroline Springs and stations such as Melton and Rockbank.

The new station will feature: a platform with shelter and seating; an accessible short ramp onto the platform;  bus bays and a taxi rank;  350 car parking spaces; ‘Kiss and Ride’ zones;  closed circuit cameras (CCTV);  pedestrian and bicycle access, with a secure bike cage; and Protective Services Officers facilities.

Member for Western Metropolitan region Bernie Finn said the Coalition Government is delivering better public transport in Melbourne’s west.

“This will be great news for Caroline Springs residents as it will improve their public transport options and serve this rapidly growing community for years to come,” Mr Finn said.

Member for Western Metropolitan region Andrew Elsbury said the new station will give current and future residents improved access to jobs, study and other important services.

“The station will be modern, safe, comfortable and accessible for all members of the local community,” Mr Elsbury said.

Public Transport Victoria Chief Executive, Mark Wild said that an information session would be held for local people to find out more about the new station.

“PTV is committed to engaging with passengers. I would like the local community to meet the project team and learn more about the project during a community drop-in session in the coming months,” Mr Wild said.

The project is being delivered by V/Line on behalf of Public Transport Victoria.

The timetable for connecting bus services will be finalised closer to completion of the project.

Preliminary works such as design, land acquisition and a new access road have already been completed.

The new station is part of the New Stations in Growth Areas program that also includes new stations at Williams Landing, Lynbrook and Cardinia Road opened between 2012 and 2013.

 Published in The Indian Sun (Indian Sun in Melbourne)

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