Benefits for Victorians

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Authorised by the Victorian Government, 80 Collins Street, Melbourne. This publication is copyright. No part may be reproduced by any process except in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968. © State of Victoria 2012 Authorised by the Victorian Government, 80 Collins St, Melbourne Victoria 3000. If you would like to receive this publication in an accessible format, please telephone Regional Rail Link Authority on 1800 107 925. Printed on recycled stock

2 Regional Rail Link Benefits for Victorians Contents

Welcome 4

Project overview 6

Project map 7

Why this project is needed 8

Meeting increased demand 10

Project benefits 12

Project construction 14

Enabling future network expansion 18

Regional Rail Link Benefits for Victorians 3 Welcome

Peter Watson Corey Hannett Chairman Chief Executive Officer Regional Rail Link Authority Regional Rail Link Authority

At the Regional Rail Link Authority we are delivering one Regional Rail Link is Australia’s largest public transport of the most important pieces of transport infrastructure infrastructure project and Melbourne’s first new major in recent Victorian history. rail line in 80 years. Regional Rail Link is not just a new rail line. It responds We have divided the project into six major work packages to Victoria’s rapidly growing population and paves the which are a combination of alliance and design and construct way for further rail projects in Melbourne’s north and west, contracts, reflecting the size and varied nature of the works. and in the state’s largest regional cities. In collaboration with the construction sector and the rail It will connect many people in Melbourne’s west to the rail operators we are delivering some of the most significant and network for the first time, reduce congestion on Melbourne’s complex rail engineering works ever undertaken in Victoria. roads, and provide improved transport services for more There will be many challenges ahead, and we at the Victorians, particularly during peak times. Regional Rail Link Authority are extremely excited about the benefits this project will bring to all Victorians.

4 Regional Rail Link Benefits for Victorians Regional Rail Link will expand Victoria’s rail network to move more Victorians to more places, more often

Regional Rail Link Benefits for Victorians 5 Regional Rail Link will create the capacity for an additional 23 metropolitan and 10 regional services during each morning and evening peak period

Project overview

Regional Rail Link is a landmark infrastructure project designed to remove major bottlenecks in Victoria’s rail network. It will do this by untangling metropolitan and regional tracks as they travel through Melbourne’s west into the heart of the city. Dedicated regional tracks will be built from West Werribee Junction to Deer Park, then along the existing rail corridor from Sunshine to Southern Cross Station. When completed, passengers on the Geelong, Bendigo and Ballarat lines will have a streamlined journey through the metropolitan system. Both metropolitan and regional passengers will get more services during peak times. The project is jointly funded by the Australian and Victorian Governments with the Australian Government contributing $3.225 billion. Regional Rail Link will increase the size of Victoria’s rail network by laying 90km of new track. The project includes removal of two level crossings at Anderson Road in Sunshine and 13 road and rail grade separations. The project will be a major economic boost to Victoria, in particular Melbourne’s west in terms of business opportunities, service contracts and jobs, and will make the western region more attractive for long-term business investment. As part of the project, new stations will be built in the growing west at Wyndham Vale and Tarneit. West Footscray station will be rebuilt and Sunshine station will receive a major upgrade. Tottenham, Footscray and Southern Cross stations will also be improved. Regional Rail Link will create capacity for an extra 23 metropolitan and 10 regional services during each morning and evening peak period. This means capacity for an additional 54,000 passenger trips each day. As well as improving existing services, Regional Rail Link will lay the foundations for future expansion of the rail network to meet the needs of Victoria’s growing population.

6 Regional Rail Link Benefits for Victorians Project map

Legend Existing stations

Existing rail network To Bendigo, Sunbury, Regional Rail Link new tracks Sydenham To Craigieburn To Upfield To Ballarat, Existing tracks Melton

Deer Park Tottenham Footscray South Kensington New stations Ardeer

Station rebuild Sunshine

Station upgrades West Footscray Middle Footscray Major station upgrade North Melbourne

Southern Cross

Tarneit

Wyndham Vale

N Port Phillip Bay To Geelong Werribee

Regional Rail Link will increase the size of Victoria’s rail network, creating much needed capacity to get more trains on tracks

Regional Rail Link Benefits for Victorians 7 Population Change 2011-2021

Greater Bendigo Why this project 17,000* is needed

Ongoing investment in modern, reliable public transport is important for ensuring a strong and prosperous Victoria. Regional Rail Link is a vital infrastructure project that forms part of a sustainable solution to population growth and Whittlesea improves transport connections Ballarat 16,000* 71,000* between some of Victoria’s Hume 41,000* fastest growing communities. Melton Victoria has experienced rapid 55,000* population growth for more than a decade. In August 2011, the state was home to 5.4 million Wyndham people, almost 420,000 more 93,000* than at the same time in 2006. Greater Geelong This trend is expected to continue. 38,000* 107,000* As the state’s population grows, new growth areas are appearing. In the future more people will live in Melbourne’s north and west. By 2021 these areas are expected to be home to an extra 367,000 people. Legend Regional Victoria is also experiencing * Projected additional rapid change, with growth rates at the Brimbank, Hobsons Bay, Maribyrnong, Melbourne, highest in 30 years. More than 40 per Moonee Valley, Moreland cent of this growth is likely to occur Approximate Existing Urban Area in Geelong, Ballarat and Bendigo. By 2021 these regional cities will be Melbourne Growth Areas home to an additional 71,000 people. The State of Victoria, Department of Transport, 2012. The State of Victoria does not warrant the accuracy or completeness of information in this publication and any person using or relying upon such information does so on the basis that the State of Forecast Population Change 2011 to 2021 Victoria shall bear no responsibility or liability whatsoever for any errors, faults, defects or omissions in the information. Source: VIF 2008

Department of Transport Policy & Communications Division

Mapping and Design Map:562-3-1 10/2/2012

Victoria is experiencing rapid population growth

8 Regional Rail Link Benefits for Victorians Peak hour capacity constraints before Regional Rail Link

To Bendigo To Seymour To Upfield To City Loop To (Northern) Sunbury Craigieburn

To Ballarat

Deer Park Sunshine Footscray Southern Cross

To Geelong Legend At or near capacity to and from city Werribee

To Altona To Williamstown Existing stations

Peak hour capacity increases after Regional Rail Link

To Bendigo To Seymour To Upfield To City Loop To (Northern) Sunbury Craigieburn

To Ballarat

Tarneit Deer Park Sunshine Footscray Southern Cross

Wyndham Vale

Legend

To Geelong Capacity increases to and from city Unchanged Werribee

To Altona To Williamstown Stations

Regional Rail Link Benefits for Victorians 9 10 Regional Rail Link Regional Rail Link 11 Meeting increased demand

Parts of Victoria’s rail network are at or near capacity. Built to serve patterns of travel and demands that are quite different from today, the network carries Currently metropolitan and regional an increasing number of metropolitan, regional trains share the same tracks as they and freight trains. travel through Melbourne’s west, which causes significant congestion Demand for public transport in Victoria is high. in peak periods. Over the last six years, patronage on the Werribee, Sydenham, Craigieburn and Upfield lines has increased Regional Rail Link will address approximately 50 per cent. Over a similar period, this problem by expanding the rail patronage on Geelong, Bendigo and Ballarat services network and separating metropolitan has grown by approximately 150 per cent. and regional tracks.

Patronage growth

Metro (Werribee,Metro Sydenham,(Werribee, Sydenham, Craigieburn, Craigieburn, Upfield) Upfield) V/Line (Geelong,V/Line Bendigo,(Geelong, Ballarat) Bendigo, Ballarat)

80 80 12 12

64 64 9 9 50% 50% 150% 150% 48 48 increase increase increase increase 6 6 32 32 Patronage (Millions) Patronage (Millions) Patronage (Millions) Patronage (Millions) Patronage 3 3 16 16

0 0 0 0 2005 2005 2011 2011 2005 2005 2011 2011 Year Year Year Year

Demand for public transport in Victoria is high, and increasing rapidly

12 Regional Rail Link Benefits for Victorians Regional Rail Link will eliminate bottlenecks at key points in the rail network

Regional Rail Link Benefits for Victorians 13 Project benefits

Regional Rail Link will improve Victoria’s rail network in four major areas:

Transport benefits Reducing road congestion Expanding Victoria’s rail network The additional transport capacity Removing level crossings Regional Rail Link will increase the size of Victoria’s created by Regional Rail Link will rail network, with 90km of new track and dedicated be equivalent to taking about Two level crossings will be regional lines from West Werribee Junction to 45,000 cars off the road during removed at Anderson Road in Deer Park, then along the existing rail corridor peak periods, which will result in Sunshine, increasing safety and from Sunshine to Southern Cross Station. an estimated $300 million saving to relieving pressure on a heavily the Victorian economy per year. congested arterial road. Removing major bottlenecks Ensuring no new level crossings Regional Rail Link will remove bottlenecks that Community benefits Regional Rail Link will include 13 cause train delays by untangling regional and Boosting investment road and rail grade separations metropolitan train services as they travel through in Melbourne’s west Melbourne’s west into the heart of the city. through Wyndham Vale and Tarneit. Regional Rail Link will improve links This will ensure there are no new Improving reliability of train services between Melbourne’s west and level crossings in these suburbs. Expanding the rail network will provide both metropolitan the city centre, making the western Introducing new services and regional commuters with more reliable train services. region more attractive to businesses and employees. It is estimated labour Wyndham Vale and Tarneit will Increasing the number of peak trains productivity in Melbourne’s west be connected to the rail network When complete, Regional Rail Link will provide capacity will grow, boosting gross regional for the first time. This will support for an extra 23 metropolitan and 10 regional services product by more than $1.6 billion. sustainable growth in Melbourne’s during each morning and evening peak period, allowing west and allow people to access Improving regional connections more Victorians to use sustainable public transport. jobs, education, recreation Regional Victorians on the Geelong, and services more easily. Enabling future network expansions Ballarat and Bendigo lines will benefit Regional Rail Link will provide essential infrastructure from more reliable and more frequent Environmental benefits that lays the foundations for future rail projects. connections to central Melbourne to get them to and from the city for Reducing greenhouse emissions Economic benefits work, study, business and recreation. The extra passenger capacity created by Regional Rail Link will Growing the Victorian economy Creating modern transport hubs save around 14,000 tonnes of During peak construction it is estimated Regional Rail Two new stations will be constructed greenhouse emissions per year. Link will add $1 billion annually to the Victorian economy. at Wyndham Vale and Tarneit. West Footscray station will be relocated Improving cycling connections Providing a major jobs boost and rebuilt, and Sunshine station will Regional Rail Link will improve Regional Rail Link will provide employment receive a major upgrade. Designs cycling connections in Melbourne’s for approximately 5600 people, including for these stations will improve safety west and allow for further cycling 2900 direct and 2700 indirect jobs. and encourage a sense of place. infrastructure upgrades.

Regional Rail Link will expand the rail network to increase connections between Victorian communities

14 Regional Rail Link Benefits for Victorians Regional capacity benefits At completion of RRL

Extra Services Total Services (after RRL) Corridor in 2 hr Peak Period in 2 hr Peak Period

Geelong 3 12

Ballarat 1 4

Melton / Bacchus Marsh 1 5

Bendigo 1 6

Total at completion 6 27 +

Additional long-term capacity with the 4 procurement of additional rolling stock

Total capacity created by Regional Rail Link 10

Metropolitan capacity benefits At completion of RRL

Extra Services Total Services (after RRL) Corridor in 2 hr Peak Period in 2 hr Peak Period

Werribee / Williamstown 4 26

Sunbury / Sydenham 4 21

Craigieburn / Upfield 2 24

Total at completion 10 71 +

Additional long-term capacity with the 13 procurement of additional rolling stock

Total capacity created by Regional Rail Link 23

Regional Rail Link Benefits for Victorians 15 Project construction

Due to its size and complexity, Regional Rail Link is being constructed by six separate project teams, working in partnership with the Regional Rail Link Authority and other key stakeholders such as Metro Trains Melbourne, V/Line and the Australian Rail Track Corporation.

Work Package Project Team

Southern Cross MTM Franchisee Project (John Holland, Coleman Rail and Alstom)

City – Maribyrnong River Alliance (John Holland, Abigroup, Coleman Rail, AECOM, GHD, MTM, V/Line & RRLA)

Footscray – Deer Park Alliance (Thiess, Balfour Beatty, Parsons Brinckerhoff, SKM, MTM, V/Line & RRLA)

Deer Park – West Werribee Junction Design & Construct (Baulderstone Leighton Joint Venture)

West Werribee Junction Design & Construct (Leighton-Downer Joint Venture)

Rail Systems Alliance (UGL, Manidis Roberts, MTM, V/Line & RRLA)

Regional Rail Link route and Work Packages

ß To Bendigo

ß To Craigieburn

ß To Ballarat Sydenham

Route and Work Packages Deer Park To Upfield à MARIBYRNONG Legend Albion CITY COUNCIL Regional Rail Link alignment MELTON SHIRE COUNCIL Footscray South Kensington New stations Ardeer Tottenham Station rebuild Sunshine MELBOURNE BRIMBANK CITY COUNCIL Station upgrades CITY COUNCIL

Major station upgrades West Footscray North Melbourne WYNDHAM Existing stations CITY COUNCIL Middle Footscray Existing rail network Southern Cross

Tarneit

Wyndham Vale

WYNDHAM CITY COUNCIL

Werribee

ß To Geelong

16 Regional Rail Link Benefits for Victorians Regional Rail Link Benefits for Victorians 17 Avalon Airport Rail Link A new rail link is being investigated between Avalon Airport and the Melbourne-Geelong rail line, with a new station at the airport. The Victorian Government has allocated $3 million over two years for planning and Regional Rail Link will lay the development of this project. foundations for future expansion Enabling future of the rail network including the For more information about the network expansion following proposed projects: Avalon Airport Rail Link visit the Department of Transport website Regional Rail Link provides vital infrastructure Melbourne Metro at www.transport.vic.gov.au for managing Victoria’s growth. Planning and development is underway for Melbourne Metro, a Rail revival feasibility study – As well as increasing the capacity and reliability proposed 9km rail tunnel including Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo of the rail network, it also provides for future five new underground stations. The Victorian Government has network expansion. The Victorian Government has allocated $2 million to examine the Investment in Victorian rail infrastructure will ensure allocated $50 million for planning long-term feasibility of returning we can expand the network to meet demand. and development work. The passenger trains between project will create extra capacity Geelong, Ballarat and Bendigo The Victorian Government is currently developing for growth areas in Melbourne’s (via Meredith, Maryborough and a new metropolitan planning strategy and regional north, west and south-east. Castlemaine) – Victoria’s second, growth plans to ensure major infrastructure is third and fourth largest cities. planned in line with Victoria’s population growth. For more information about The Department of Planning and Community Melbourne Metro visit the Public For more information visit the Development and the Department of Transport Transport Victoria website at Public Transport Victoria website are working together on these plans. www.ptv.vic.gov.au/projects at www.ptv.vic.gov.au/projects

Regional Rail Link provides vital infrastructure for managing Victoria’s growth

18 Regional Rail Link Benefits for Victorians Regional Rail Link Benefits for Victorians 19 Contact us Phone 1800 107 925 Email [email protected] Website www.regionalraillink.vic.gov.au

Authorised by the Victorian Government, 80 Collins Street, Melbourne. DOT5043/SEPT/12