THE federal and state governments will spend nearly $30 million more on upgrades to the Warrnambool train line.
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An additional $26.8 million will come from the federal government, with Victoria providing a further $3 million, the governments jointly announced late Sunday.
The governments initially pledged $114 million for the line but federal Wannon MP Dan Tehan said those costs were "revalued" by the state government leading to the increased commitment.
"Once again the lion's share is from the Commonwealth. What the Commonwealth needs is for the state to get on with the job and do it properly," he said.
It comes as upgrades to five level crossing are now complete including at Terang, Boorcan, Buckley and Moriac.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack said the upgrades included boom gates, bells, lights and improved train detection technology.
There are nine level crossing upgrades now finished and a final three under way.
Victorian Transport Infrastructure Minister Jacinta Allan said works were progressing on stage one, but working conditions had modified due to the coronavirus pandemic.
"More than 170 people have worked around 16,000 hours to deliver these upgrades in line with strict protocols to protect workers and the community from the spread of coronavirus," Ms Allan said.
"In addition to improved safety, this project will deliver better reliability and much-needed fifth-weekday return service on the Warrnambool line."
Including work at Waurn Ponds the upgrades to the line are costing $251 million, $199 million of that coming from the federal government.
Mr Tehan said the Warrnambool Line Upgrade formed part of a jointly-funded $2 billion Regional Rail Revival Program (RRRP), upgrading every passenger rail line in the state.
"The RRRP is another example of the Australian Government investing in Victorian infrastructure to strengthen regional and local economies, create local jobs and provide work for small and medium businesses," Mr Tehan said.
The works also includes a crossing loop at Boorcan and signalling upgrades between Warrnambool and Waurn Ponds. The project is due for completion at the end of 2021.
VLocity trains announced by the state government more than 1000 days ago were expected to cut up to 20 minutes off travel times between Warrnambool and Melbourne.
Premier Daniel Andrews visited the Warrnambool train station in July 2017 and said the $114 million works would take 12 to 18 months, meaning it would be completed in 2019 at the earliest.
But Ms Allan told The Standard in January that the works were now expected to be completed by late 2021 and the high-speed VLocity carriages would not run on the line once the upgrades were finished.
Ms Allan said "the line was in much worse condition than what was initially anticipated".
The Standard has repeatedly asked the state government when the high speed carriages would run on the line but no date has been given.
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