A $2 million program of work to improve 10 V/Line regional railway stations will begin shortly Minister for Public Transport Terry Mulder announced. The jointly funded V/Line and Public Transport Victoria works will involve platform resurfacings, painting, tactile installations and toilet renovations.

Mr Mulder said the works would make a significant difference to people who use some of V/Line’s busiest stations. “Ararat and Castlemaine stations will have new toilets rebuilt to improve access for people with a disability,” he said.

“V/Line will resurface platforms at Benalla, Wangaratta, Drouin, Tynong, Ballarat, Malmsbury, Dingee and Gisborne stations and include tactile installations. “These are significant projects which will make a difference to the vision impaired and V/Line customers who use mobility aids.”

V/Line funded projects include retiling the heritage listed Castlemaine Station roof, new verandahs at Wallan and Kilmore East stations and painting of inside and outside Kyneton Station.

Benalla Station will also have its road entrance resealed.

V/Line Chief Executive Officer Rob Barnett said work to replace slate tiles at Castlemaine Station would be the most complex project. “There are 13,000 slate tiles we have had to source. All of them will need to be carefully and individually nailed into place,” he said.

“We want to preserve as much of our station history as possible while trying to make improvements for our customers who use them.” Efforts will be made to minimise the disruption to customers during the works.

There will however be some disruption to Benalla customers accessing the station during the road resurfacing works. Details will be posted to vline.com.au during the coming weeks.