Max Hatzoglou
The state government is being urged to “get on” with the Western Rail Plan and the electrification of train lines to Melbourne’s outer west to enable more sustainable, faster and efficient train services.
Rail Futures Institute president John Hearsch said the plan was by the government announced in 2018 as a way of electrifying rail lines to the west and delivering fast rail to Geelong and Ballarat.
However, rail lines to Wyndham Vale and Melton have yet to be electrified.
Late last month, the government announced that the nine-car VLocity trains would run from Wyndham Vale station in a bid to improve services.
But Mr Hearsch said the nine-car trains were a short-term solution and were not environmentally friendly.
“These nine car trains are not very environmentally friendly I have to say because each of those carriages has got a big diesel engine and an auxiliary engine as well to drive the lighting and air conditioning,” he said.
Mr Hearsch said electrifying the lines was the best solution.
“The message is to get on with the Western Rail Plan and deliver a permanent solution which is a proper electrified suburban line just like the rest of Melbourne,” he said.
Mr Hearsch said a suburban electrified service in the outer west would enable more commuters to catch the train, and create a faster, more frequent service.
A government spokesperson said: “We’re working hard on the Western Rail Plan to create faster journeys and boost capacity in the rail network for Melbourne’s growing west.”
“The new nine-car VLocitys which started running from Wyndham Vale this week are 50 per cent bigger than the previous trains, meaning over 200 more passengers can travel on each service.”
Detailed engineering and design work is currently being undertaken by Rail Projects Victoria, according to the state government.
