$100m investment to jump start works on VIC Western Rail Plan

Victoria’s Western Rail Plan is one step closer to becoming a reality with the Victorian Government investing $100 million through the State Budget 2019-20 for the delivery of detailed planning and design works.

The Western Rail Plan is set to separate regional and metro services on the Geelong and Ballarat lines, which means there will be fewer stops as well as faster trips and less crowded trains. Separating the lines is also the first step towards the delivery of fast rail to the regions.

The Western Rail Plan will include:

• Two new electrified metro rail lines through the western suburbs to growth areas in Melton and Wyndham Vale, separating them from the Ballarat and Geelong lines
• A potential connection from Wyndham Vale to Werribee would also be considered. This link could potentially become the western section of the proposed Suburban Rail Loop
• Additional tracks between Sunshine and the CBD to cater for faster and more frequent metro and regional trains. This would most likely be a new tunnel that would be part of Melbourne Airport Rail
• Major investment in the Geelong and Ballarat lines to run trains faster than 160km/h. This will include exploration of electrification of these lines and new, fast electric regional trains

“The Western Rail Plan is one of the vital projects our growing city and state needs - electrifying the rail line to the west to run more services to our booming suburbs and a step towards fast rail to Geelong and Ballarat,” Minister for Transport Infrastructure Jacinta Allan said.

Source: Victoria's Big Build

The State Government has established a Geelong Fast Rail Reference Group which includes representatives from communities living in and around Geelong together with stakeholders from various areas.

This group will be helping Rail Projects Victoria in assessing fast rail options for the Western Rail Plan. Wider community consultation sessions are set to go underway later this year.

A number of investigations and technical studies have already commenced to help better understand existing conditions along the Melton, Werribee, Wyndham Vale and Geelong corridors.

Staging the works for the Western Rail Plan is being considered to be delivered alongside the planning for the Melbourne Airport Rail Link business case that is due in 2020.

What are your thoughts on this new rail project for Victoria? Let us know in the comments section below.

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Source: Premier of Victoria; Victorian Department of Transport; Victoria’s Big Build; Rail projects Victoria