FREIGHT capacity has increased for trains operating along an 88-kilometre section of Victoria’s rail network.

The Ararat to Maryborough line was recently upgraded as part of the Murray Basin Rail Project.

Installation of new rail and extra ballast means freight trains can operate with heavier loads along the section of track.

Federal minister for infrastructure, transport, regional development and local government Catherine King said regional exporters would benefit from the upgrades.

“These vital works will help Victorian primary producers move their goods to the rest of the country and the rest of the world as easily and efficiently as possible,” she said.

Upgrade works began in April 2022 and were completed during a 39-day closure of the line. The completion was announced in late December.

Freight capacity increased to 21-tonne axle loading following the installation of 166 kilometres of rail and 75,000 tonnes of ballast.

“The upgrades to the Ararat-Maryborough Line have delivered critical capacity improvements to allow more freight to be moved by rail,” ports and freight minister Melissa Horne said.

The Murray Basin Rail Project intends to increase the number of weekly train paths on the Murray Basin network from 28 to 49.

Design work and planning approvals are continuing for the next stage of upgrades to the Murray Basin freight network, including extending a passing loop at Emu, building new passing loops at Tourello and Elmhurst, a mobile refuelling station at Ouyen and signalling upgrades at the Ouyen and Maryborough yards.

“We are continuing to make progress on these important freight upgrades for Victoria, with industry to benefit from more capacity and a boost to network reliability and resilience,” minister for transport and infrastructure Jacinta Allan said.

The Victorian government said the rail was delivered by 11 separate freight train trips from South Australia, replacing the estimated equivalent of 356 truck trips on a journey of more than 800 kilometres each way.

Scrap rail from the track upgrades was donated to the Daylesford Spa Country Railway, where it is expected to be used to replace sections of current line and assist with a planned future extension for the tourist railway.