THE Victorian Opposition has made a big transport move ahead of this year\u2019s state election, pledging to spend $633 million to upgrade regional rail services.<\/p>\n
On Sunday, Opposition Leader Matthew Guy said that if the Coalition came to power at November\u2019s poll, it would replace the diesel engines with long-haul variants of the Vlocity trains.<\/p>\n
This will enable the existing 1980s-era diesel-hauled trains to be gradually phased out of service, with the new long haul fleet to service the Warrnambool, Shepparton, Albury, Bairnsdale and Swan Hill lines.<\/p>\n
The order for the trains would be placed in June 2019, with the new fleet delivered during the Coalition\u2019s first term.<\/p>\n
The fleet replacement of 16 new train sets, consisting of 96 new railcars and capable of speeds up to 160kmh, will be built in Victoria as a new variant to suit longer-haul country travel.<\/p>\n
\u201cI will bring Victoria\u2019s regional rail into the twenty-first century,\u201d Mr Guy said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Liberal Nationals have a strategy to decentralise Victoria\u2019s population to ease the squeeze on Melbourne\u2019s growth. A modern regional rail service is a central part of our plan.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy government would focus on bringing new jobs to country Victoria, better regional roads and rail as well as improving health and education services.<\/p>\n
\u201cDaniel Andrews is the Premier for Melbourne – I will be a Premier for all of Victoria.\u201d<\/p>\n
In other public transport news, the Labor state government has urged the federal Coalition to pay Victoria\u2019s share of the Regional Rail Revival so it can start stage one of the projects, which include planning and development funding to get future packages of works ready for market on the Geelong and Warrnambool lines, level crossing upgrades on the Warrnambool line, and funding to secure the Armstrong Creek transit corridor.<\/p>\n
On Monday, Public Transport Minister Jacinta Allan said there was an in-principle agreement for $1.57 billion, but this had not yet been delivered due to the \u201crecent chaos coming out of Canberra\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe understand the Turnbull Government have no major concerns \u2013 it\u2019s time they signed the deal and delivered the money, so we can give passengers the train services they deserve.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
THE Victorian Opposition has made a big transport move ahead of this year\u2019s state election, pledging to spend $633 million to upgrade regional rail services. On Sunday, Opposition Leader Matthew Guy said that if the Coalition came to power at November\u2019s poll, it would replace the diesel engines with long-haul variants of the Vlocity trains. […]<\/p>\n