The City of Ballarat will this week address the need for further investment along the Ballarat rail line.
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An item on council’s Wednesday’s agenda advises for continued lobbying for funding following the state government’s recent $518 million state budget package for the line.
Using data from a Rail Futures Institute presentation on the Ballarat line, the item looks at proposed infrastructure in the mid to long term, specifically for projects that should be rolled out by 2023-2028.
The ‘Rail Futures proposed Stage 2 infrastructure (Melton/Bacchus Marsh electrification)’ section of the item lists a $1.8 billion package with a raft of infrastructure advancements.
Included would be electrification from Sunshine to Melton and Bacchus Marsh/Rowsley, quadruplication of track from Sunshine to Caroline Springs and towards Rockbank, new stations at Hopkins Road and Toolern, third platforms for terminating trains at Bacchus Marsh and Melton, grade separated junctions for Ballarat and Bendigo lines and metro trains at Sunshine and additional car parking and improved bus interchanges at all stations along the line.
Ballarat City Council mayor Des Hudson said it’s crucial that the Ballarat Rail Line Action Committee continues to lobby for funding from separate government levels, as well as support from bodies such as Infrastructure Australia.
“The initial investment of $518 million is significant in improving the capacity of the rail corridor,” Cr Hudson said.
“That makes way for potentially another $2 billion worth in projects.
“It’s timely planning in terms of knowing how we’re going to move people in the future.
“The next phase of that action group is to use the collective value of the entire corridor (between Ballarat and Melbourne) to continue the lobbying for more funding from not only state government, but also federal counterparts.”
Cr Hudson said continued mid-term investment could also help reduce congestion on major roads through potential possibilities with rail freight.
However, transport consultant and commuter Jeff Moran said the proposed raft of works were too Melbourne-centric.
“This is all Melbourne focused with no regard for better travel to Ballarat,” Mr Moran said.
“Grade separations benefit the road network, not the rail network. This money would be better targeted duplicating the line to Ballarat.
Mr Moran also said the Bendigo grade separation would be a “poor investment”, believing trains could still be run on electrified tracks and said the formation of a high speed rail corridor between Melbourne and Geelong would serve better than quadruplication.
Many believe the line requires total duplication in the long term, or at least as far as Melbourne to Bacchus Marsh.
April’s state budget announcement saw funding for the duplication of a 17-kilometre section of track between Deer Park West and Melton and the inclusion of three new passing loops.