Vic: Commuter crawl to end for country train travellers

AAP General News (Australia)
12-08-2008
Vic: Commuter crawl to end for country train travellers

Eds: Takes in Transport Vic Rail



MELBOURNE, Dec 8 AAP - Regional Victoria is hailing the state government's ambitious
transport plan which dedicates $10 billion to improving country roads and rail.

In the government's $38 billion blueprint unveiled on Monday, $5.2 billion will be
spent on rural and regional roads projects and $4 billion has been committed to a regional
rail link.

A 44km dedicated track for trains from regional centres into Melbourne's Southern Cross
Station will mean the commuter crawl through the city's western suburbs will be a thing
of the past for country train travellers.

The track from West Werribee to Southern Cross, via Tarneit and Sunshine, will provide
separate lines for regional V/Line and metropolitan trains for the first time - removing
the bottleneck through the suburbs.

Public Transport Minister Lynne Kosky said when completed the regional rail link would
provide a faster connection between Melbourne and the regional centres of Geelong, Ballarat
and Bendigo.

An extra 20 carriages will also be added to the regional V/Line network.

But the project is dependent on Commonwealth funding and the government could not say
when work was likely to start.

Public Transport Users Association president Daniel Bowen said the project may never
happen if the federal government refused to foot the bill.

Mr Bowen said there was a possibility the project could blow out travel times for Geelong
passengers because the proposed link was a significant diversion.

Regional Cities Victoria spokesman Doug Sharp said the plan was proof the government
believed regional and rural communities were strong contributors to the state.

"The Brumby government is ensuring regional communities have the right infrastructure
to support this growth, as well as equipping the regions so they continue to be an important
contributor to Victoria's economy," Mr Sharp said.

"The government will continue to support our thriving regional centres which are strong
alternatives to Melbourne for investment and liveability."

The plan also committed $550 million to to purchase carriages for regional rail services,
$20 million on regional airports and $80 million for regional bus services.

AAP cmb/pmu/jfm/bwl

KEYWORD: TRANSPORT VIC REGIONS

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