Premier Media: READY FOR TOMORROW: $19 MILLION TO RETURN PASSENGER RAIL ...

[ozbob]

http://www.premier.vic.gov.au/newsroom/10767.html

READY FOR TOMORROW: $19 MILLION TO RETURN PASSENGER RAIL TO CLUNES AND IMPROVE NORTH-WEST FREIGHT RAIL LINKS
From the Premier
Tuesday, 15 June 2010

The Premier John Brumby today announced that passenger rail services would return to the central Victorian town of Clunes as part of a major $7 million Victorian Government investment to overhaul the dilapidated station and include it on the soon to re-open Maryborough train line.

At historic Maryborough and Clunes stations today, Mr Brumby announced Clunes station would become a stop on the route to Maryborough following the completion of a $50 million project to return passenger rail to Maryborough which was shut-down by the Kennett Government.

The $7 million investment is part of the Victorian Government's $631 million Ready for Tomorrow: A Blueprint for Regional and Rural Victoria.

Mr Brumby also announced that the first passenger rail services to Maryborough would begin by early August with V/Line to unveil the new timetable next month.

"This is an exciting day for the communities of Clunes and Maryborough who are one step closer to being able to catch a train again," Mr Brumby said.

"Ready for Tomorrow is a $631 million strategic investment by our Government to drive a new era of opportunity and prosperity in regional Victoria.

"We understand how important transport links are to the liveability of our regions which is why we are making these major investments which will mean people living and working in Maryborough and Clunes can commute to Ballarat and Melbourne for work, study or leisure.

"In particular this is an historic day for the community of Clunes who have been eager to get their town's train services restored. This investment is an investment in the future of Clunes.

"It will ensure that Clunes people can access job, education and leisure opportunities in Ballarat and Melbourne and will create a faster route between Clunes, Melbourne and Ballarat."

Member for Ripon Joe Helper said it was an historic day for the community of Clunes.

"I know how much this community has wanted to get back its train services after they were closed in the 1990s by the Kennett Government and this major investment is great news for this region," Mr Helper said.

The Victorian Government will also invest a further $12 million in the north-west rail corridor to Mildura to improve its freight carrying efficiency, building on the recently completed $73 million Mildura Rail Freight Corridor upgrade.

This will involve the upgrade of 15 level crossings along the rail corridor making them safer, and allowing trains on the corridor to travel at a faster speed.

The upgrade will focus on leveraging more investment by freight carries along the corridor and improving the track capacity in the Merbein to Mildura region. It will help to reduce transit times on the corridor from 13 to 11 hours, significantly improving its competitive position.

Minister for Regional and Rural Development Jacinta Allan said the upgrade would mean industry in Mildura and the north-west corridor could get their goods faster to Melbourne's ports

Key industries in the north-west region include grain, citrus fruit, wine, packaged orange juice, table grapes, mineral sands and pulses.

"Efficient, reliable rail services to the Port of Melbourne and Geelong are critical for regional export businesses in north-west Victoria," Ms Allan said.

"Exports are facilitated via the Mildura rail line – the busiest intrastate freight line in Victoria – with freight hubs at Merbein and Donald. Improving the performance of this supply chain will enable new export opportunities to be captured on world markets."

Ms Allan said that under Ready for Tomorrow, the Victorian Government would deliver action and investment to create new opportunities and a prosperous future for families in Victoria's regions.

"Our Government is determined to support families living and working in regional and rural Victoria," she said.

"Ready for Tomorrow is a $631 million strategic investment by our Government to drive a new era of opportunity and prosperity in regional Victoria."

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Amazing what looming elections can do ... 

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Some interesting photographs of a different livery for VLocity unit  --> http://www.flickr.com/photos/23446104@N04/