More than $750M for regional VIC public transport

Public Transport in regional Victoria will be upgraded to become faster, more reliable and better connected according to the Victorian Government.

As part of the Victorian Budget 2018/19, $313 million will be provided for Stage 2 of the Shepparton Line Upgrade, which should allow for nine services a day to and from Shepparton. The project is already underway on the first stage, after it received $43.6 million in the last budget.

The budget will also provide $50 million to complete planning of an airport rail link that aims to deliver fast rail to Geelong.

Wyndham Vale and Seymour services are set to increase, with $10.8 million being invested in improving the connectivity.

Track and signalling upgrades in Maryborough, Ararat and Ballarat will be provided with $130 million to improve reliability of the regional rail network.

A new $172.9 million train stabling and maintenance facility is planned to be built on the regional network and to upgrade the Southern Cross Rail Yards.

An additional 30 X’Trapolis carriages will be purchased for the metropolitan network, costing $103.5 million.

Funding will also go towards providing more busses and new flexible services across a number of regional towns, including Bellarine, Lara, Gisborne, Trentham, Daylesford, Ararat, Horsham Donnybrook and Kilmore.

“We’re giving Victorians in regional areas more efficient and reliable public transport,” Victorian Minister for Public Transport Jacinta Allan said.

“We’re continuing our record investment to improve regional public transport, support local jobs, and get people home safer and sooner.”