Rowville Rail
Feasibility Study
Project Scope
This publication is copyright. No part may be reproduced by any process except in
accordance with the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968.
© State of Victoria 2011
Authorised by the Victorian Government, 121 Exhibition St, Melbourne Victoria 3000.
If you would like to receive this publication in an accessible format, such as large print or
audio please telephone Public Affairs Branch, Department of Transport on (03) 9655 6000.
Contents
1. Purpose
1
2. Project history
1
3. Background
1
4. Project objectives
2
5. Consultation & communication
2
6. Project leader 3
7. Study scope
3
8. Project deliverables
5
9. Governance
6
1
1. Purpose
The purpose of this document is to outline the scope of the Rowville Rail
Feasibility Study and provide an understanding of the objectives, extent
of the study, timing, consultation and communications methodology,
project deliverables and project governance arrangements.
2. Project history
A rail line to Rowville was one of the rail network developments proposed
in the 1969 Melbourne Transportation Plan, although it had been
discussed for many years prior to that. The 1969 plan proposed a train
line be built from Huntingdale railway station through Rowville to Ferntree
Gully on the Belgrave line, providing a link to the areas of Monash
University, Waverley Park, Stud Park and Rowville. It was one of several
rail proposals that did not proceed at that time.
Investigations were also conducted as part of the Scoresby Transport
Corridor EES (1998) which examined options for light rail or bus rapid transit
to accompany the Scoresby Arterial (which was later built as East Link).
In 2004 Knox City Council released a pre-feasibility study which
suggested the option of a single track rail configuration between
Huntingdale and Stud Park Shopping Centre via North Road and
Wellington Road.
3. Background
On 17 February 2011, the Minister for Public Transport announced that
work would begin on the Rowville Rail Feasibility Study. The study, to
be conducted by independent consultants, is expected to take two years
to complete.
Project description
With Melbourne’s continuing strong growth it is important the
Government explores a range of options for providing high-quality, highcapacity public transport across the city.
The study is an investigation of a 12 kilometre rail line between
Huntingdale railway station and Rowville that will serve residents in the
eastern suburbs and the large numbers of students accessing Monash
University. It will include engineering, architectural and operational
investigations as well as extensive consultation with the public.
Project benefits
The detailed planning investigations will enable the Government to
understand the feasibility of building a rail line to Rowville. The study will
provide greater understanding of a range of aspects, including patronage
projections, constructability and costs.
2
Rowville Rail Feasibility Study Project Scope
4. Project objectives
The key objectives of the Rowville Rail Feasibility
Study are to:
❯❯ explore improved integrated transport and land
use opportunities, and broader economic,
social and environmental outcomes
❯❯ understand future patronage demand in the
medium and long term within the Monash
and Knox municipalities to ensure the cost
effectiveness of planning
❯❯ provide a frequent, clean, reliable,
and higher capacity mode of public
transport service, for the Knox and
Monash communities;
5. Consultation and
communication strategy
Community consultation
A key part of the Rowville Rail Feasibility Study
is to engage with key stakeholders, business,
industry and the community.
Early engagement will add value to the study
process through assessing the community’s
travel needs and their perspective on current
and future transport requirements for the local
area and surrounds.
❯❯ provide a concept for the proposed
Rowville railway line interfacing with
the existing Dandenong rail corridor at
Huntingdale railway station
A range of engagement tools and techniques will
be used as part of the study process, including
community workshops and drop in sessions,
targeted interviews with key stakeholders and a
public submission process.
❯❯ ensure that the interface to the Dandenong
rail corridor integrates with all operational
and strategic plans for the existing and
future rail network.
Significant public consultation will be an integral
part of the study. The study team will hold
facilitated community and stakeholder meetings,
led by the study Project Leader.
The study will investigate integrated transport
solutions centred on the rail link to Rowville,
to ensure that the railway stations are easily
accessible by as many modes of transport as
possible (for example walk, cycle, bus, taxi, car).
Appropriate opportunities will be identified by
the study team to provide major community and
stakeholder briefings throughout the progress of
the study.
The study will also undertake comprehensive
and inclusive consultation with key stakeholders
and the local community that:
Stakeholder consultation
❯❯ considers the local needs and interests
of stakeholders
❯❯ considers the needs and interests of
stakeholders who are users of the wider
transport network including business
The following organisations will be amongst
those consulted during the study:
❯❯ Train operators – V/Line, Metro Trains
Melbourne (MTM)
❯❯ VicRoads
❯❯ Linking Melbourne Authority (LMA)
❯❯ provides timely, relevant and accurate
information about the study
❯❯ Monash University
❯❯ facilitates contact and input from
the community
❯❯ City of Knox
❯❯ gives the public the opportunity to provide
input and feedback on the study.
❯❯ City of Monash
❯❯ Shopping centres and businesses in the
local area.
3
Communications strategy
and plan
Phase 1: Option development
The study team will prepare a communications
strategy and plan in accordance with
Department of Transport requirements and
consider IAP2 guidelines. The communications
strategy and plan will determine an appropriate
approach to public consultation.
❯❯ an options identification and assessment for
the Rowville rail line
6. Project Leader
❯❯ engineering and architectural concept plans
The study team will be led by a Project Leader
who will be the single point of reference and key
liaison with the Department of Transport. The
Project Leader will:
❯❯ coordinate and manage work undertaken by
the study team
❯❯ be the key person involved in briefing and
accompanying Department of Transport to
stakeholder consultation meetings
❯❯ lead briefings on study direction outcomes
to the Department of Transport Executive
and Minister for Public Transport
❯❯ be well regarded in the transport industry
and bring sufficient skill and knowledge to
the role
❯❯ provide expert opinion and judgement
drawn from tangible experience
❯❯ lead discussions from a transport, land-use
and community perspective.
7. Study scope
The Rowville Rail Feasibility Study will be
delivered in two phases. This project scope is for
Phase 1 only.
The major tasks of Phase 1 are:
❯❯ a multi-criteria evaluation matrix for the
assessment of the rail options
❯❯ desktop investigations including reviewing
existing reports
❯❯ a high level constructability proposal and
concept of operations plan
❯❯ high level costing, demand forecasting,
economic analysis and risk analysis
❯❯ public communication and
community consultation
❯❯ a feasibility report
The study will give consideration to minimising
the social, economic and environmental impacts
of construction, operations and maintenance of
the proposed Rowville rail line.
Rail options assessment
The study team will examine a range of options
and determine the feasibility, cost and risk
associated with each station location and rail
alignment. The study will address the:
❯❯ location of stations, stabling and turn-back
facilities along the Rowville rail line
❯❯ connection at Huntingdale and proposed
track configurations
❯❯ operational strategies
❯❯ engineering and architectural concepts for
the vertical and horizontal alignments and
any road grade separation options
Phase 2 will develop more detailed proposals
subject to the findings of Phase 1.
❯❯ engineering and architectural concepts
for stations, including Station Access and
Mobility Plans
Cost and duration
❯❯ preliminary (desktop) geotechnical
investigations
Total Cost: $2 million
(includes Phase 1 & Phase 2)
Duration: Phase 1 mid 2011 – mid 2012
Phase 2 mid 2012 – mid 2013
❯❯ grade line and cross section options
(including combinations of tunnel, cut and
cover, at-grade and elevated structures)
4
Rowville Rail Feasibility Study Project Scope
❯❯ high-level analysis of the constructability of
the rail line
❯❯ rolling stock and stabling
facilities requirements
❯❯ high-level assessment of rail network
implications including rolling-stock,
signalling, traction and track requirements
elsewhere to enable the Rowville service
❯❯ the need for further infrastructure including
indicative placement of infrastructure
❯❯ traction power considerations
❯❯ a concept timetable
❯❯ an overview of the impact of the project
in the context of the Transport Integration
Act 2010
Infrastructure
❯❯ concept of operations including a high
level timetable
❯❯ desktop investigations to identify the
location of existing assets including but
not limited to:
❯❯ impacts and implications of the rail line on:
–– currently proposed projects
–– other future rail capacity
improvement projects
–– local bus network
–– nearby roads
❯❯ economic appraisal including a concept
costing of the rail line
❯❯ patronage forecast and demand analysis
❯❯ identify implications for urban design and
development through identifying:
–– affected properties and land-use impacts
–– high-level land use or redevelopment
opportunities that may be created by
the project.
Concept of operations
The study team will conduct necessary
investigations with operational input from the
Department of Transport to identify the current
and planned service patterns on the Rowville
rail line and existing Dandenong rail line. This will
include investigating and identifying:
❯❯ current and planned service patterns and
options for different service patterns
❯❯ opportunities and implications for the
introduction of new rail services into the
existing rail network
–– rail infrastructure (e.g. track, structures,
signalling, power, communication)
–– roads (e.g. signals, structures, buildings,
land boundaries)
–– utilities (e.g. water, power, gas,
petrochemical, communications etc)
–– major civil structures, buildings,
including indicative land boundaries
and access points.
❯❯ structural asset assessment for condition
and structural adequacy of any assets likely
to be impacted by design, construction,
operation or maintenance of the rail line
❯❯ a signalling concept plan identifying the
implications of a fixed signal block system
and new generation signalling design
❯❯ an electrification concept plan for the
Rowville rail line and interfaces including
potential sites for substations.
❯❯ desktop geotechnical assessment to inform
concept design, including:
–– high level foundation techniques,
–– excavation (including mechanical
excavation, blasting and tunnelling),
–– treatment of excavated material,
–– any specialist tunnel boring or drilling
equipment requirements.
5
Environmental
High level constructability
❯❯ groundwater and surface water conditions,
outlining constraints and recommendations
for integration with rail engineering works
❯❯ comment on construction staging
methodology/program
❯❯ cost estimate for the proposed works;
❯❯ the potential future need for
dilapidation surveys
❯❯ comment on noise and vibration issues and
provide potential mitigation measures
❯❯ high level analysis and commentary on site
contamination
❯❯ comment on fire, ventilation and
emergency considerations
❯❯ desktop flora and fauna survey and review
recent literature
❯❯ conduct high level traffic analysis and advise
of implications on the network.
❯❯ cultural and heritage investigations.
Commercial, demand
forecasting and economic
analysis
❯❯ undertake high level demand forecasting
❯❯ undertake economic analysis using the
Australian Transport Council Guidelines
as reference
❯❯ consider and provide comment on legal
or commercial implications (e.g. EastLink,
commercial tenancies)
Engineering and architectural
concept plans
❯❯ provide an overview of the proposed new
stations including the location, proposed
catchments, and concept plans
❯❯ identify possible railway station upgrades
required including station, platform and
building modifications
❯❯ comment on the need for further
track works, civil works, bridge/culvert
modifications and develop concept plans
❯❯ identify level crossing modifications on
the network as a result of changes to
operational service patterns of the proposed
Rowville rail line
❯❯ grade line plan and typical cross sections
❯❯ consideration of rolling stock requirements
and stabling facilities.
Sustainability and accessibility
❯❯ consider opportunities for sustainable
transport infrastructure (e.g. solar powered
shelters, water saving devices, solar
orientation, natural ventilation, regenerative
braking systems)
❯❯ consider other sustainable modes of
transport including walking and cycling
(e.g. shared paths, access, over and
underpasses etc); and
❯❯ consider accessibility issues including
Disability Standards for Accessible
Public Transport (“DSAPT”) and Disability
Discrimination Act 1992 (“DDA”).
8. Project deliverables
The study team will provide a feasibility report
summarising the conclusions of the work.
The report may be used for preparing internal
Department of Transport submissions for
preliminary design and funding. The report will
also provide a basis for Phase 2 of the feasibility
study which will progress the rail link through
concept design to preliminary design.
6
Rowville Rail Feasibility Study Project Scope
9. Governance
The study will be the responsibility of an
independent study team appointed by the
Department of Transport. The Project Leader will
be required to lead briefings on study direction
outcomes to the Department of Transport and
Minister for Public Transport as required. The
Project Leader will also provide expert opinion to
lead discussions from transport, land-use and
community perspective.
A Government steering group will be set up to
facilitate resolution of issues during the project
and will include representatives from the study
team, Department of Transport (Public Transport
Division), Department of Treasury and Finance
and Department of Premier and Cabinet.
Further information
Website www.transport.vic.gov.au/rowville
Email ask@transport.vic.gov.au
Phone 1800 078 387
DOT5996/11