Final section of Victoria’s $3.65bn Regional Rail Link opens to commuters
Victoria’s $3.65 billion Regional Rail Link is complete, after the final section of the project through Tarneit and Wyndham Vale opened to commuters on Sunday, June 21.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Warren Truss said the project removed major bottlenecks in Victoria’s rail network and significantly increased capacity for passengers in Melbourne’s west and the major regional centres of Geelong, Ballarat and Bendigo.
“The Regional Rail Link has expanded Victoria’s rail network by laying 50 kilometres of dedicated dual track and 40 kilometres of single track from West Werribee through to Southern Cross Station,” Mr Truss said.
“The completion of this project has seen regional rail services separated from metropolitan rail services, providing additional capacity for passengers across the rail network.
“It has also provided an economic boost for Victoria, with an injection of $1 billion annually into the Victorian economy during construction and the creation of 3,500 construction jobs.”
Premier of Victoria Daniel Andrews said commuters will be able to spend more time at home and less time waiting for transport with trains running every 10 minutes for Geelong commuters throughout peak periods.
“Regional Rail Link transforms our train network, delivering more frequent, reliable trains to Melbourne’s booming west and Victoria’s major regional centres,” Mr Andrews said.
“Regional Rail Link is one of the most important projects in Victoria’s history and a great example of what can be achieved when Federal and State Governments work together to deliver major public transport infrastructure.”
Regional Rail Link is the state’s first new major rail line in 80 years and has been delivered ahead of schedule and under budget. The project has delivered:
- 90 kilometres of new track;
- Five new or upgraded stations;
- 13 grade separations;
- Two level crossing removals; and
- Improvements to cycling and civic infrastructure across Melbourne’s west.
The project was jointly funded with the Australian Government investing $2.7 billion and the Victorian Government contributing $931 million.
Source: News Release, Urbanalyst, 23 June, 2015