Labor and the Coalition go head-to-head on regional fast train plans ahead of November election
VICTORIA’S major parties have accused each other of promising half-baked fast train projects, amid a fight over regional rail.
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VICTORIA’S major parties have accused each other of promising half-baked fast train projects, amid a fight over regional rail.
The Andrews Government today hit back at the Opposition’s $16 billion promise of fast trains to Geelong, and later regional cities across the state.
Labor promised $100 million, if re-elected in November, to plan the separation of regional and metro line west of Melbourne, arguing fast trains could not run without dedicated tracks.
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Under its plan, Wyndham Vale and Melton would be taken off the regional network and added to metro lines via new electrified rail.
They would connect to a super station at Sunshine, which would also be linked to airport rail and Labor’s promised $50 billion suburban loop.
A tunnel between Sunshine and the CBD would be considered as part of the overhaul.
Construction on the government's plan would begin in 2022 — the same year the Opposition has promised to have fast trains running to Geelong.
Premier Daniel Andrews suggested the opposition’s plan “some sort of magic wand proposal”.
“That is not a plan, that is a con,” he said.
“If you try to run regional fast rail and metro services on the same track, you just can’t do it.”
The government was today attempting to leverage its work on the Melbourne Metro Tunnel and level crossing removals to claim only it could overhaul the network.
But the Coalition labelled the government’s plan “farce rail”.
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Opposition public transport spokesman David Davis said while electrification to Wyndham Vale and Melton should happen longer-term, it should not hold up the delivery of regional fast rail.
He said the Coalition was confident it could “get a line out (of the CBD) to do what we need”, and was considering a number of options including a tunnel to Sunshine.
“It could not be more stark: the choice is between Daniel Andrews’ plan for a plan or our plan, which is to get on and build,” Mr Davis said.
“We will have fast trains to Geelong in the first term. We will do the whole thing quicker.”
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