<span class="" id="parent-fieldname-description"> New crossing loop for Warrnambool line Rail industry backs manufacturing innovation Major upgrade for Waterfall station </span> <p><strong>New crossing loop for Warrnambool line</strong><br />Victorian minister for public transport Terry Mulder has announced a $10m rail crossing loop on the Geelong to Warrnambool line at Warncoort to provide greater operational flexibility for passenger and freight trains between Marshall and Warrnambool.</p><p>“The Victorian Coalition Government is fulfilling our election commitment to build a new 1200 metre long crossing loop at Warncoort (between Birregurra and Colac) to allow trains to pass one another,” Mulder said.</p><p>“With the shorter crossing loop at Camperdown to remain open, this will make it easier to operate trains on the Warrnambool line.”</p><p>A previous crossing loop at Winchelsea was removed several years ago by VicTrack.</p><p>Mulder said that the overnight freight service to Warrnambool operating five times per week was keeping 280 trucks a week off the Princes Highway West, while also lowering farmers’ and exporters’ costs.</p><p>“The new crossing loop should allow freight trains to become longer and heavier, depending on demand. Late running freight trains are less likely to have to sit at North Geelong for hours waiting for a clear run on the largely single track Warrnambool line,” he said.</p><p>Patronage on V/Line’s Warrnambool services rose by almost 10% in 2012 to around 480,000 journeys. </p><p><strong>Rail industry backs innovation </strong><br />The Australasian Railway Association (ARA) has welcomed the release of the Federal Government’s Industry and Innovation Statement-A Plan for Australian Jobs. </p><p>A key feature of the statement is the plan for Industry Innovation Precincts, of which there are proposed to be 10 across a range of sectors. </p><p>The ARA will be putting the rail industry’s case forward that it should be declared one of these precincts, given rail’s centrality to economic productivity and its ability to support over 110,000 jobs around the nation. </p><p>“The rail industry supports the statement’s strong focus on innovation, particularly the outputs of innovation”, ARA CEO Bryan Nye said. </p><p>“If the package can achieve its goal of increasing the capacity of local industries to win more work at home and abroad, it will be considered a success. </p><p>“Any initiatives that help Australian industries build capacity should have bipartisan support, and in the run-up to this year’s federal election the ARA will be keen to see how the major parties will be supporting jobs in rail.” </p><p>Additionally, as strong wealth and job creators in the Australian economy, Nye said the rail industry’s small and medium size enterprises (SMEs) will be “eager to see” what benefits can be gained from the business support initiatives outlined in the statement.</p><p><strong>Major upgrade for Waterfall station</strong><br />NSW Minister for Transport Gladys Berejiklian today announced the State government would deliver a major upgrade at Waterfall Station, making the busy interchange station more accessible to customers. </p><p>The much needed improvements are part of the $770 million Transport Access Program – a government initiative to deliver improvements for public transport customers, Ms Berejiklian said. </p><p>“The NSW Government is getting on with the job of delivering modern and accessible transport infrastructure where it’s needed most,” she said. </p><p>“This will not only benefit local customers who use Waterfall Station, but also those commuters from the Illawarra region who travel in their cars and use the interchange.” </p><p>Planning documents will be made available as part of the community consultation process following which Waterfall customers can expect to see:</p><ul><li>A new lift</li><li>New platform canopies</li><li>Improvements to footpaths around the station</li><li>Improved security and the installation of CCTV cameras</li><li>Interchange improvements to the drop-off and pick-up areas</li><li>Upgraded bicycle storage facilities.</li></ul><p>Member for Heathcote Lee Evans said the upgrade was exciting news for the region. </p><p>“I am confident this upgrade will make a real difference for local public transport customers and will help encourage more people to choose public transport,” he said.</p>
