Burgundy Street railway bridge to receive super upgrade

The Burgundy Street railway bridge in Heidelberg is set to receive an upgrade with a new superstructure to be installed as part of Metro's first year maintenance plan.

A new steel superstructure - the term used for the top deck of the bridge - will be installed, replacing the existing top deck, as well as new ballast, concrete sleepers and rail.

More than $1 million will be spent on the superstructure, which forms part of Metro's first year maintenance plan, an ambitious package of works that utilises $145 million of Government investment to improve signalling, track condition and overhead line.

Metro Structure and Facilities Manager John Lee said that it will take a crew of more than 30 to complete the work over three nights and two days.

"The bridge is currently being built off-site, and when it's ready we'll shut down the line over a weekend between Clifton Hill and Macleod stations to enable our crews safe access to the track to complete the works," Mr Lee said.

"Although closing part of the train line to do the works will mean we have to run buses in place of trains, this short-term disruption will bring long-term improvements.

"This is a priority upgrade that Metro identified during the bid process.

"The existing substructure abutments, the ‘legs' of the bridge, will remain, but everything above will be replaced, including the steel frames, the top deck of the bridge, as well as new ballast, concrete sleepers and rail."

A Melbourne-based contractor is currently manufacturing the steel top deck at their Heidelberg workshop.

The Burgundy street bridge upgrade joins a host of other activity due to be completed by the end of June, including:

• 28,500 concrete sleepers laid to replace wooden sleepers;
• 10 kilometres of new rail line laid;
• 225 kilometres of rail grinding;
• 117 kilometres of ballast and track tamping to improve ride quality;
• 16 kilometres of overhead contact wires replaced;
• Three electrical substations installed to improve the capacity of power supplies to system;
• Ballast cleaning - a process that hasn't been undertaken in Melbourne for 20 years that involves replacing stone under the tracks for better drainage, improving ride quality and boosting signal reliability;
• 16 new LED signals installed;
• Nine sets of points replaced; and
• 21 train stations painted.

Metro CEO Andrew Lezala said the boosted infrastructure maintenance will bring improvement across the network.

"We've seen the impact that failing infrastructure has had on train services in recent months and boosted infrastructure maintenance will bring improvement," Mr Lezala said.

"We are transforming Melbourne's train network through thorough maintenance, repairs and upgrades and that's not an overnight process. It takes time to do an important job, and do it well.

"Customers will see less cancellations and improved punctuality as the maintenance regime continues, but there is often a lag as performance catches up to the level of maintenance activity."

Metro will spend $200 million each year over next eight years on infrastructure maintenance, focusing on the problem areas - overhead line, signalling, power supply and track failures.