Faster to Ballarat

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

Labor on fast track for change

A fast rail from Melbourne to Ballarat will be the first in a series of
rural train upgrades by the new Labor Government.State and Regional
Development Minister John Brumby said a feasibility study, funded jointly
by the government and V-Line passenger licensee National Express, would be
completed by February. Brumby said the Labor Party had committed about $80
million to upgrade rural rail services and had promised to begin work on
them within 100 days of obtaining office. The funding for the projects
will be available next financial year, he said. While in opposition, the
Labor Party promised:

$25 million for a fast rail upgrade to Ballarat - with the aim of cutting
travel time between Ballarat and Melbourne to less than 60 minutes.

$20 million for a fast rail link to Geelong - cutting travel time to 45
minutes.

$20 million for a fast rail upgrade to Bendigo - aiming for an 80-minute
link to Melbourne.

$15 million to help upgrade the Traralgon line.

$40 million to standardise the rural freight network.

Freight rail services may also be expanded with the newly privatised
Freight Victoria seeking funds to re-open the Sale to Bairnsdale line.
Freight Victoria chief executive Marinus van Onselen said although it was
early days yet for the government, re-opening the line would see much of
the logging transport revert to rail, which would also benefit the roads.
He said $2 million was needed for re-opening the line for freight and $4
million if it was also to carry passengers.

Weekly Times 27/10/99 p11