Premier Statement: PROPOSED ROUTE OF REGIONAL RAIL LINK REVEALED

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PROPOSED ROUTE OF REGIONAL RAIL LINK REVEALED

Wednesday, 17 June 2009

Up to six new stations will be built as part of the $4.3 billion Regional Rail Link project which will provide train services to Melbourne?s growing west securing 2800 jobs in construction.

Federal Infrastructure and Transport Minister Anthony Albanese and Victorian Public Transport Minister Lynne Kosky invited the community to have their say on the proposed alignment released today.

?Today?s announcement demonstrates we have moved to the next stage of this vital infrastructure project which is the largest improvement to our rail network since the City Loop,? Ms Kosky said.

?It is a massive engineering project  which includes up to 50 kilometres of new track and will initially include the construction of two stations at Manor Lakes in Wyndham Vale and Rose Grange in Tarneit, with land to be set aside at a further four station sites along the line.

?We are taking action now to reserve land along the line so in the future rail services can be delivered to suburbs as they grow.

?Regional Rail Link provides capacity for more than 20 extra train services every hour across the Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo, Werribee, Craigieburn and Sunbury (Sydenham) lines providing capacity for more than 9000 extra passengers every hour.?

Mr Albanese said Regional Rail Link was a nation building project and the Rudd and Brumby Governments were getting on with the job of investing in infrastructure and creating jobs.

?We are determined to deliver this vital public transport project as quickly as possible, with full construction scheduled to start next year,? Mr Albanese said.

?Regional Rail Link is what the Rudd Labor Government?s Nation Building for Recovery strategy is all about.  It will put Australians to work today building the transport infrastructure vital to our long term economic prosperity.

?Regional Rail Link is partnership project with the Rudd Government providing $3.2 billion for the project with the Brumby Government funding the balance.?

No new level crossings will be constructed on the line which will improve the reliability of suburban and regional trains and add capacity to run more services at the busiest times.


?Today?s announcement also shows we are planning for the future with land reserved for four possible stations and other rail infrastructure including stabling and train cleaning facilities,? Ms Kosky said.

?Two stations will be built at Manor Lakes in Wyndham Vale and Rose Grange in Tarneit. The route proposes further stations in the vicinity of Dohertys Road in Truganina, Davis Road in Tarneit, Sewells Road in Tarneit and Black Forest Road, West Werribee ? in response to future urban development.?

?The proposed route will also create much better access to goods, services, jobs, health, and education for residents from Geelong and Melbourne?s western growth areas.

The proposed route for the Regional Rail Link was selected from a broad range of options through a process that:

?    Considered a range of engineering constraints and benefits;
?    Assessed options against future land use planning needs; and
?    Took into account specialist investigations into engineering design, transport planning, land use planning, flora and fauna, hydrology, geotechnical, cultural heritage, social impact, economic impact, contamination and hydrogeological, noise and vibration, and physical services.

Ms Kosky said the detailed planning already underway for the project would maximise the benefits of the Regional Rail Link project across Melbourne?s western suburbs and beyond.

?Regional Rail Link is the first major new rail line for Melbourne?s train network in 80 years. By separating our regional and metropolitan trains, the link will improve the capacity of the whole network and deliver more services to Melbourne?s growing western suburbs,? Ms Kosky said.

?Integrating planning for Regional Rail Link with work to revise Melbourne?s Urban Growth Boundary has meant that these growth areas will have good transport access to jobs, services and recreation as they develop.?

Submissions close 17 July 2009. Further information about Delivering Melbourne?s Newest Sustainable Communities, including maps, reports, and details of public information open days and the submissions process is available from www.vic.gov.au/planningmelbourne or by calling 1800 090 789.