Better velocity from high-speed trains: Settle

RAIL passengers in Bacchus Marsh now have access to better services and more travel options, according to Member for Eureka Michaela Settle.

Ms Settle recently announced that the replacement of V/Line’s Classic Fleet trains with VLocity trains had been completed, and would result in more reliable services and faster journey times on the Ballarat Line.

Under the new arrangements, three evening peak services that have terminated at Melton are now being extended to Bacchus Marsh.

Five morning and another five afternoon Bacchus Marsh services will also have journey time savings of three to five minutes.

Ms Settle said the improvements would make travel easier and more convenient for passengers using those services.

“The Ballarat Line is one of the busiest on the V/Line network, with more than six million trips taken over the past year – and planning is underway for trains to run every 40 minutes between 8am and 9pm on weekends,” she said.

Ms Settle also said the Government’s regional fare cap had “transformed” the way people travel around the state, with more than 33 million train trips taken across the network and more than $90 million saved since the cap was introduced last year.

Information on the new timetables is available at ptv.vic.gov.au, at vline.com.au or by phoning 1800 800 007.

“We’re delivering a better V/Line experience for Bacchus Marsh passengers, making it quicker and easier to travel to work, to school or to see loved ones,” Ms Settle said.

The VLocity is the highest-speed train in the V/Line fleet, with a top speed of 160 kilometres per hour. As of August this year, 118 three-car sets are in service.

Twenty-two more are under construction based on current confirmed orders.