Re: $550m to speed up Vic rail services

[James Brook <ajmbrook@ozemail.com.au>]

Does anyone know what this will mean for railfan tours in the future?

David Bromage wrote:
> 
> $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.
>    MORE tsc/jlw/it

-- 
- James Brook -

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