Works on the Ballarat train line will mean another weekend shut-down next month as track upgrades continue.
Commuters are being encouraged to plan ahead as buses will replace trains from the first service on Saturday, April 28 to the last on Monday, April 30 with normal service to resume on May 1.
Regional Rail Revival director Mark Havryluk said that closures were unavoidable.
“A project of this size requires careful consideration and planning, and there will be unavoidable changes to services while the Ballarat line upgrade is carried out until late-2019,” he said.
“Crews worked around the clock to install safety fencing, relocate signalling and remove vegetation in preparation for track duplication.
“During rail line closures, we undertake critical works along the line that cannot be safely completed while trains are running.”
Temporary safety fencing was installed along the tracks at Melton south and Rockbank during the Labour Day weekend which would “significantly reduce the number of times the train line will require closing” throughout construction, he said.
Mr Havryluk said when the upgrade was completed trains would have the capacity to run every 40 minutes off-peak.
Second platforms would be added at Bacchus Marsh, Ballan and Wendouree stations while the platform at Rockbank station would be extended, he said.
