Article: Rail link ally: Victoria stand gives local groups hope

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Rail link ally: Victoria stand gives local groups hope

Rail link ally: Victoria stand gives local groups hope
BY CHRIS MCLENNAN
19 Nov, 2011 04:00 AM
THE State Government has urged the Commonwealth to fund a feasibility study into the Transcontinental Rail Link Project.

Although stopping short of committing its own funds, Victoria's move was yesterday seen as important to giving the languishing project some impetus.

The proposed national rail link from Yelta to Menindee would need 220 kilometres of new track costing anywhere from $400-$800 million.

Local groups and now the State Government want about $4 million for a feasibility study to see if the idea would still work.

The monster multi-billion dollar Olympic Dam development in South Australia has boosted local hopes of a rail line from Mildura to the transcontinental line at Menindee.

Mildura Development Corporation chairman Dane Huxley yesterday welcomed the Victorian Government's support.

Mr Huxley said the Transcontinental rail link had been a priority for more than a decade.

The project would also involve standardising the Geelong-Mildura rail line, which would also boost another long-held dream, the return of the Mildura passenger train.

The Mildura train failed to receive a mention in this week's release of the State Government's transport blueprint, "Victoria's Submission to Infrastructure Australia".

Mention of the Transcontinental project came on Page 32 of the blueprint.

"The Victorian Government also supports continued Commonwealth investment in the interstate rail network through the Australian Rail Track Corporation to promote a greater role for rail in the interstate freight market," the report said.

"To that end, Victoria would welcome the Commonwealth funding a feasibility study through the Australia Rail Track Corporation, into the proposed Transcontinental Rail Link project.

For more of this story, purchase your copy of Saturday's Sunraysia Daily 19/11/2011.