$10.5bn Victorian transport funding overdue: ARA

<p>The Australiasian Railway Association (ARA) has welcomed a $2.9bn injection into Victorian rail after &#8220many decades of neglect&#8221.</p> <p>The funding is part of a $10.5bn transport action plan released by the Victorian Government on Wednesday (May 17), which also includes $2.7bn for the state’s arterial roads and about $3bn for road and rail passenger services. </p> <p>Victorian premier Steve Bracks said the package was the biggest single investment in transport ever taken by the state government.</p> <p>&#8220Over the next 25 years, Victoria’s population will grow by 1.25m and it is expected that freight traffic will double and the cost of traffic congestion will triple if left unchecked,&#8221 Mr Bracks said.</p> <p>About $2.8bn will be spent in the next four years, mostly on passenger services, with the remainder to be used over the next 25 years.</p> <p>ARA chief executive Bryan Nye said all governments had a responsibility to address the crucial issue of infrastructure.</p> <p>&#8220The $2bn for the rail network will help improve capacity and help address the growing demand across the network,&#8221 Mr Nye said.</p> <p>&#8220It is always easy to criticise governments for not doing enough and not having any plans for the future.&#8221</p> <p>&#8220Here we do have a plan, it provides significant investment and it gives some certainty to those working in the industry.&#8221 </p> <p>The funding will also include $750m for the upgrade of ageing communications and technology systems on the rail network.</p> <br />