station at South Morang. The double track between Keon Park and Epping was commissioned on 28 November 2011. A shared use path was opened to the public on 5 February 2012. The three-metre wide path runs the length of the rail extension and provides connections between the existing bicycle network, through to South Morang railway station. Mernda extension The 2015 State Budget allocated $9 million to plan the extension of the line to Mernda, with building commencing in 2016. The extension is double track and completely grade separated, initially with two stations. Mernda station was located on the south side of Bridge Inn Road, integrated with the future Mernda Town Centre shopping centre, south of location of the original station. A second station, Middle Gorge, (originally named Marymede during construction) was selected following community consultation. In November 2016, the government announced that a third station called Hawkstowe would be built near Hawkstowe Parade in South Morang as part of the extension. Waste management contractor Haulaway worked with a social enterprise, Outlook Environmental, to offer support and employment opportunities to socially disadvantaged members of the local community as part of this project. The Mernda extension opened on 26 August 2018. Extension proposals Wollert line A proposal exists for a spur line to be constructed to Epping North, and the suburb of Wollert, at a cost of between A$76 million and A$300 million. The line would branch off the Mernda line at Lalor, with new stations at Epping Plaza, Epping North, Aurora and Wollert. A number of properties to reserve the Wollert rail corridor have been purchased by the State Government. The Metropolitan Planning Authority proposes for this line to have its terminus in Wollert. Services Outbound services stop all stations from Flinders Street to Mernda, with the exception of some services during weekday morning peaks. During this time, some services will run express from Jolimont, stopping only at Clifton Hill, Preston, Reservoir, Thomastown, Epping, South Morang and Mernda. Some of these AM express services terminate at either Reservoir or Epping. Two outbound all-stations services terminate at South Morang during this time. All citybound services stop at all stations seven days a week. One weekday afternoon pre-peak service originates from Epping, with another originating at South Morang. All services on the Mernda line run clockwise through the City Loop, except weekend early morning services and Night Network services running direct to and