Re: Geelong likely to get fast-rail link before Ballarat

["James C." <james_ccj@optusnet.com.au>]

> A very authoritative statement James. Your source?
>
> Dave

Here we go again, your usual off topic irrelevent crap, get a life would
you?

Source? this is all the source you wanted,

http://www.dpc.vic.gov.au/domino/web_notes/newmedia.nsf/ebfd7a9e83f839b34a25
68110023b2e3/f706a4cfc7dcc6fe4a2569e2007aba89?OpenDocument


FROM THE MINISTER FOR TRANSPORT
DATE: Thursday, January 25, 2001
LIBERAL PLAN TO LEAVE GEELONG COMMUTERS STRANDED


Every second person waiting for a train at Geelong would be left stranded at
the station under a bizarre plan being pedalled by State Opposition MPs, the
Minister for Transport, Mr Peter Batchelor, revealed today.

Mr Batchelor said the Opposition plan to use sprinter trains on the Geelong
line could not possibly succeed because the trains did not have the capacity
to carry the large number of commuters who used the service.

He said that sprinter trains were used on the Bendigo and Ballarat lines
because those cities did not generate the same level of demand as Geelong.

"Under this crazy plan being pushed by Geoff Leigh, Ian Cover and Alister
Paterson, every second Geelong commuter would be left stranded at the
station because the sprinter trains do not have the capacity to carry them,"
Mr Batchelor said.

He said that it was also important to note that the Bracks Government's
commitment to a 45-minute journey between Geelong and Melbourne could and
would be achieved by upgrading existing locomotives.

"Under our plan, Geelong residents can travel to Melbourne in 45 minutes
without being stranded at the station waiting for the next sprinter train to
appear."

Mr Batchelor said that Mr Leigh was a member of the former Kennett
Government which had seven years to improve train travel times between
Geelong and Melbourne, but did absolutely nothing.

"Instead of improving public transport in regional Victoria, they closed
rail lines and slashed services," he said.

Cheers
James