$550m to speed up Vic rail services

[dbromage@fang.omni.com.au (David Bromage)]

$550m to speed up Vic rail services
   MELBOURNE, Sept 5 AAP - The Victorian government will spend $550 
million on developing fast rail links between Melbourne and major 
regional centres, Premier Steve Bracks announced today.
   Mr Bracks said the introduction of high-speed services between 
Melbourne and Ballarat, Bendigo, Geelong and Traralgon would be the 
biggest one-off investment in regional rail infrastructure in 100 
years.
   The Premier said the total cost of the fast rail links would be 
about $800 million, with the private sector expected to provide the 
balance of the funding.
   "This is not just a great project for Ballarat, Bendigo, Geelong 
and Traralgon and all the population on that line - it's actually a 
great project for Victoria," Mr Bracks told reporters.
   The aim is to achieve travel times of 60 minutes to Ballarat, 80 
minutes to Bendigo, 45 minutes to Geelong and 90 minutes to 
Traralgon.
   Mr Bracks said the rail investment delivered on the Labor 
Party's election promise of improving rail links in regional 
Victoria.
   The $550 million government contribution includes $80 million 
already allocated for the project in the 2000-2001 Budget.
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