Fast Rail on track regardless of election outcome

THE state Labor government has dismissed federal Coalition claims investment in Geelong fast rail would be “placed at risk” if the federal Coalition loses government.

Victorian Liberal Senator Sarah Henderson and Liberal candidate for Corangamite Stephanie Asher further accused federal Labor leader Anthony Albanese of “contempt” earlier this month, because Geelong was “excluded” from Mr Albanese’s recent $500 million pledge for fast rail between Brisbane and Melbourne should Labor win government.

“The federal Labor and federal government commitment to Geelong Fast Rail is exactly the same,” said a Victorian government spokesperson, adding “locals would remember Senator Henderson promised 32-minute services by 2022 and broke that commitment”.

Planning for the Geelong fast rail is well under way with an expected construction start date of Stage 1 by 2023.

Geelong to Melbourne services presently divert via the Regional Rail Link, stopping at stations between Wyndham Vale and Southern Cross.

Stage 1 of the fast rail project includes a new Werribee corridor route with a new dedicated express track between Werribee and Laverton, each station undergoing an upgrade.

Further works include upgrades to bridges over main roads, new bridges and culverts over creeks and rivers and upgrades to associated signalling and train control systems.

When finished, it’s expected to cut average travel times for passengers by up to 15 minutes.

The state government declined to provide a finish date for the rail improvements, saying “we’re working constructively with the federal Infrastructure Minister on the planning and technical design, with a completion date to be finalised as part of this process”.

The federal Coalition originally pledged $2 billion towards the project during the 2019 election campaign contingent on the Victorian government matching it, which it did in late 2020.

A state government spokesperson did not respond to questions about if or when plans for a transport link to Torquay would be finalised.