Matthew Guy’s $19 billion plan for European-style fast trains in Victoria

Travel times between Melbourne and regional centres would almost halve as part of an ambitious plan unveiled by the opposition.

State Opposition Leader Matthew Guy at Geelong Train station with Brian Brian McKiterick and Andrew Katos. Picture: Alison Wynd

Travel times between Melbourne and some regional centres would almost halve as part of a $19 billion pledge to upgrade Victoria’s regional rail network unveiled by the opposition in a bid to win next month’s election.

Coalition leader Matthew Guy unveiled an ambitious 10-year plan designed to ease Melbourne’s projected population squeeze by decentralising jobs and encouraging people to move throughout the state.

Under the proposal a new fleet of European-style fast trains, travelling at speeds of 200km/h, would reduce travel time between Melbourne and Geelong — the state’s second largest city — from 58 minutes to 32 minutes, while travel from Melbourne to Ballarat would drop from 73 minutes to 45 minutes.

Mr Guy said Melbourne’s growth, projected to hit 8 million in the next 30 years, was unsustainable and the rail plan was key to reducing the pressure.

“If elected in November, a Liberal-National government will focus on the biggest rebuild of our country rail network in our country’s history,” he said.

“Focusing on every bit of attention on Melbourne is not a sustainable way to grow our state, the way to grow our state is to decentralise.

“Unplanned, unmanaged population growth is killing Melbourne’s liveability.”

While details of the plan remain under wraps, an initial injection of $3 billion over four years will kickstart the project, with a 32-minute Geelong to Melbourne service expected to be achieved during that time. Later works would involve upgrading lines to Warrnambool, Bairnsdale and Swan Hill.

The plan, which is yet to have a business case drawn up, would be fully costed before the election, Mr Guy said.

The announcement follows a recent promise by the Andrews’ Labor Government to start work on an underground rail loop, linking the suburbs and the airport by 2050. The cost of that project could hit $50bn.

Infrastructure projects pledged by both parties in recent weeks have amounted to $100bn of spending.

Premier Daniel Andrews questioned his rival’s promise, claiming that his government was already upgrading every regional Victorian rail line.

“We’re actually delivering that right now, creating hundreds of jobs and getting the work that needs to be done actually completed,” he told reporters. “As for our opponents, they’re not relevant to our plans.”

Mr Guy said the project was realistic and had the backing of Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg.

Additional reporting: AAP