More than 1000 extra seats added to V/Line network

“Our regional rail network is booming with passenger trips on the V/Line system expected to hit 12 million for the past financial year,” Victorian Premier John Brumby said.
“Since we completed Regional Fast Rail, patronage has dramatically increased as passengers take advantage of extra services, better frequencies and new trains.
“When the 14th VLocity carriage enters service, a total of 1064 extra seats will have been added to the V/Line network since August 2008 and we will continue to provide more seats with a further 40 carriages to be rolled out by 2012.
“The $38 billion Victorian Transport Plan provides funding for a total 54 VLocity carriages and funding for a further 20 V/Line carriages.”
Bombardier constructs the fleet at its Dandenong workshop and uses 70 per cent local content from Australian, Victorian and local suppliers.
Victorian Public Transport Minister Lynne Kosky said regional Victoria was “voting with their feet”.
‘We are taking action to improve regional rail services through track upgrades, new trains and cheaper fares and the latest patronage figures show this has been money well spent with more people than ever before using V/Lines services,” Kosky said.
“And of course V/Line train services will be boosted with the completion of the $4.3 billion Regional Rail Link which will add extra capacity on the Ballarat, Bendigo and Geelong lines.
“Regional Rail Link which is jointly funded between the Rudd and Brumby Governments will also improve metropolitan train services with regional trains [having] their own tracks all the way to Southern Cross Station, eliminating congestion across both networks.
“When all 74 carriages are in service, combined with Regional Rail Link, we will have doubled the capacity of the V/Line fleet to keep pace with growing patronage.”