A new plan proposed by a transport industry peak body says rail is imperative to unclog Melbourne for both people and freight.
The 25-year plan, called InterCity: How Regional Rail Can Re-Balance Population Growth and Create a ‘State of Cities’ in Victoria, is to be formally launched on September 5 at RMIT University by former Deputy Prime Minister, Tim Fischer.
The plan is expected to form the centrepiece of a strategy to redirect some growth from Melbourne into Victorian regional cities and towns.
A key feature of the plan is a 10-year program to deliver progressive improvements in train journey time, capacity, frequency and reliability on all regional lines via infrastructure and service improvements.
A second phase, starting around 2027, would provide a change in capacity and journey times with faster trains and new lines, including a Melbourne Airport hub linked with the lines to Bendigo, Seymour, Shepparton and Albury.
Another feature would be the linking of regional cities Geelong, Ballarat and Bendigo via a new standard gauge rail network in western Victoria to complement the freight-based Murray Basin Rail Project.
Rail Futures Institute secretary, Dr Bill Russell, said the driving force behind InterCity was evidence improved rail service was a powerful and effective tool for redirecting growth to regional centres.
“It can help distribute economic and social benefits across the state,” he said.
“Melbourne is already experiencing the difficulties of rapid growth, urban sprawl and traffic congestion choking the city. Building more roads will not solve the problem.”
State ports minister Luke Donnellan has himself referred to the problems of congestion during several transport industry conferences in recent months.
Dr Russell said by 2015, Melbourne could have as much as 80% of the population of Victoria.
“This outcome does not meet the government’s own statutory planning and strategic planning objectives which require that Victoria’s population be rebalanced from Melbourne to regional Victoria,” he said.
This article originally appeared in Rail Express affiliate Lloyd’s List Australia.
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