Fast rail proposed from Melbourne to Greater Shepparton

FROM Shepparton to Melbourne in half an hour? That’s the vision of one private consortium, which has received a Federal Government grant.

FROM Shepparton to Melbourne in half an hour?

That’s the vision of one private consortium, which has received a Federal Government grant to develop a business case for a high-speed rail line to northern Victoria.

Consolidated Land and Rail Australia wants to build the Melbourne-Greater Shepparton fast rail — the first, $13 billion phase of its grander plan for high-speed rail all the way to Sydney.

CLARA, a consortium of 16 design, development, technology and consulting companies, says travel times on a Melbourne-Greater Shepparton route could be reduced from three hours to 32 minutes.

The proposal includes developing two new cities along the rail line in the Greater Shepparton and Strathbogie shires.

The increased land values and development opportunities of the cities would fund the fast rail with “no direct costs to government or taxpayers”.

Committee for Greater Shepparton chief executive Sam Birrell welcomed the news, but noted there had been many studies into high-speed rail since the 1980s and “they always seem to be dismissed as not stacking up”.

“I think the community is cynical about more and more rail studies,” Mr Birrell said.

“At some point, there’s got to be some action.”

CLARA’s proposal is one of three to share in $20 million to develop fast-rail business cases, alongside the NSW Government’s pitch for a Sydney-Newcastle line and a Queensland consortium’s bid for a Brisbane to Moreton Bay and Sunshine Coast line.