thaimelbournetransport.myfastforum.org

admin · Site Admin Joined: 22 Jan 2008 Posts: 131

At least 5000 additional people will be able to access peak morning trains, with the Brumby Labor Government announcing eight new morning peak train services, as part of a $794.1million infrastructure package to boost capacity and improve public transport for all Victorians.

Public Transport Minister Lynne Kosky said the Budget boost built on the $320.3 million the Brumby Labor Government had announced for eight new metropolitan trains and eight new V/Line carriages over the past financial year.

“The Brumby Labor Government is taking action to deliver short, medium and long term initiatives to improve public transport for all Victorians,” Ms Kosky said.

“Since 1999 our Government has implemented the biggest overhaul of the regional train network, added more than 1000 extra weekly services to the metropolitan train system, expanded tram services and improved bus links across the State.”

“But there is always more to do. Public transport patronage has grown by almost 20 per cent over the past two years.

“This 2008-09 State Budget public transport package shows that the Brumby Labor Government is taking action to address the challenge of providing better public transport for communities across Victoria.”

Ms Kosky said the Government had planned for significant investment in the State’s public transport system under $10.5 billion Meeting our Transport Challenges transport plan.

“This Budget allocation delivers on the MOTC projects planned for this year – but it goes further, with more than $429 million in projects above and beyond our 10 year plan,” Ms Kosky said.

“This additional spending acknowledges the pressure that faster-than-expected population growth is placing on the public transport system.”

A key element of the funding is a raft of improvements for the metropolitan rail network including:

o $3 million to upgrade Prahran and Windsor stations;
o $10.4 million for design works for the extension of the Epping line to South Morang;
o $92.6 million for a third track and extra platform for trains at Laverton. This will allow for three additional morning peak services on the Werribee line, cutting journey times by eight minutes and improving reliability for V/Line Geelong services;
o $153 million for a third track, additional platform and train stabling at Westall Train Station. This will allow for three more morning peak services on the Dandenong line and provide capacity for express trains from Pakenham and Cranbourne to bypass middle and inner suburban stations for the city;
o $30.2 million for an extra track at Craigieburn Train Station, to run two more morning peak services and reduce the bottleneck for V/Line trains travelling via the station to the city or to regional Victoria;
o $32 million for around 1700 new carparking spaces at 10 stations and upgrade of Noble Park station to Premium Status.

Regional public transport links will be boosted with a $14.7 million package to significantly expand bus and coach services to South Gippsland and the Bass Coast.

“This will offer more frequent public transport links for the area than ever before and new timetables will be developed in consultation with the local community,” Ms Kosky said.

Maintenance on country rail lines will also benefit from $254.5 million, including $7.4 million for Bendigo Corridor Safety Improvements, and another $19.7 million has been allocated for metropolitan train and tram works and planning for future transport links.

Metropolitan bus services will also be increased with $22.5 million to increase services along the Eastern Freeway to Doncaster, funding provides for eight buses, resulting in 20 extra peak services every weekday – providing capacity for an additional 1000 people a week.

The frequency of the popular Nightrider service, which has increased capacity by 30 per cent since March 2007, will be boosted, offering services every 30 minutes, instead of hourly, reducing overcrowding and wait times for passengers. New metropolitan bus contracts and a bus tracking and monitoring system totalling $64.3 million are also funded.

“Bus services are becoming increasingly popular with passengers wanting to travel from suburb to suburb or link to major transport hubs,” Ms Kosky said.

The 2008-09 Budget accelerates the MOTC plan to extend the Epping line to South Morang, with the announcement of scoping and high level design works to bring forward the project.

“The development and design phase of this project will involve extensive environmental, engineering and other technical investigations which are critical to determining the full scope and cost of the rail extension before works commence,” Ms Kosky said.

The Laverton, Westall and Craigieburn upgrades are designed to add capacity in the short term allowing extra peak hour services and reducing overcrowding.

Werribee line trains will then bypass other stations following the construction of a third track at Laverton, cutting travel times to the city by around eight minutes.

A similar project will be funded at Westall on the Dandenong line to allow for extra services including extra express trains to Cranbourne and Pakenham.

“The Craigieburn Track Upgrade involves signalling upgrade works and improvements to the track design, aimed at helping trains move more easily around Craigieburn Station,” Ms Kosky said.

“Importantly the works will also help accommodate for future growth in passenger numbers on the Craigieburn rail line by allowing more services to be added in the future.”

Ms Kosky said that on top of this public transport Budget allocation, the Brumby Labor Government had also committed to:

o $12 million over two years to fund the roll-out of the Early Bird ticket across the metropolitan train network;
o $24.8 million to lease five trams for three years;
o investing $22.6 million for maintenance and operation of V/Locity cars; and
o $37.8 million for an on-road tram and bus priority program announced as part of the Keeping Melbourne Moving congestion package.

Ms Kosky said the Brumby Labor Government was committed to rebuilding and expanding Victoria’s public transport network, after the disastrous years of the Kennett Liberal-National Government.

“On top of adding 1000 weekly services to the timetable since 1999, our Government has also renegotiated the Kennett Government’s flawed contracts to run Melbourne’s trains and trams,” Ms Kosky said.

“The rail network has been expanded to Craigieburn and Sydenham, the tram network has been extended to Docklands, Box Hill and Vermont South, and every bus route in Melbourne is being reviewed with passengers already benefiting from increased frequency and longer operating hours across more than 60 routes.

“In regional Victoria we have slashed fares on V/Line services by an average of 20 per cent and have 22 additional V’Locity carriages on order, which will deliver major improvements across the regional network. Our investment in the regional fast rail project has paid off with V/Line patronage at a 60-year high.

“The Brumby Labor Government is taking action to deal with the massive growth in patronage and last week we announced a new Department of Transport to reaffirm this Government’s