Premier

Budget Delivers More Trains To Geelong And Waurn Ponds

05 May 2016

The Andrews Labor Government is delivering more train services to Geelong and South West Victoria, and planning for new services in the future.

Minister for Public Transport, Jacinta Allan, visited Waurn Ponds today to discuss the massive investment in services to Victoria’s second largest city and South Western Victoria.

This investment, delivered in last week’s Victorian Budget 2016/17, will deliver more than 50 extra train services for Geelong every week, more weekday and Sunday services on the Warrnambool line and develop a business case for the duplication of the line between South Geelong and Waurn Ponds.

The Victorian Budget provides $131 million to increase regional train services, including 54 extra services for Geelong every week, including four more off-peak services every day and 26 extra services on weekends.

This builds on the 200 extra services a week to Geelong added last year with the opening of Regional Rail Link.

The Warrnambool line will get an extra weekday service from Warrnambool to Geelong and back, as well as an additional return service from Warrnambool to Melbourne on Sundays.

The Victorian Budget also provides $3 million to develop a business case for duplication of the line from South Geelong to Waurn Ponds.

Ms Allan also announced today that the Labor Government would make major improvements to the busy bus interchange at Deakin University’s Geelong campus, with better shelter, bright lighting and extra seating.

These initiatives are part of the Labor Government’s $1.3 billion investment in better regional train services, which includes $280 million for 27 new VLocity carriages, $141 million for critical maintenance and $198 million to rebuild V/Line, so it can deliver the extra services people in Geelong need and deserve.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Public Transport, Jacinta Allan

“This massive investment will deliver more trains, more often for Geelong and Victoria’s South West Coast, so people can spend less time on platforms and more time with family and friends.”

“Unlike Sarah Henderson, whose own Government couldn’t fund the feasibility study she campaigned for, we’re properly assessing the duplication to Waurn Ponds, to deliver better services in the future.”

Quotes attributable to Member for Geelong, Christine Couzens

“Geelong is booming. We need more trains to Geelong and the growing areas in the south and that's what this Budget delivers."

Quotes attributable to Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney

“People on the Warrnambool line have waited more than a decade for an extra weekday service. After years of Liberal and National excuses, Labor is getting it done.”

Reviewed 19 August 2020

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