Select Committee on Train Services

Inquiry into the factors leading to and causes of failures in the provision of metropolitan and V/Line train service

Submission by East Shire Council

Red area indicates Shire of ,

Contact Rhonda James East Gippsland Shire Council PO Box 1618 VIC 3875 03 51539441 [email protected]

30 June 2009 1

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

East Gippsland Shire is facing a series of diverse and complex challenges associated with the geography and demography of a large rural and remote area, where the majority of communities have little or no public transport.

Transport is seen to be the critical issue in enabling connectivity and participation within and between communities, access to regional service centres and in increasing liveability in the Shire.

Transport disadvantage affects communities greatly in East Gippsland resulting in a decline in the quality of life, health and wellbeing. As indicated by the World Health Organisation’s Social Determinants of Health, a strong link has been made between poorer health and the isolation of people, including a low level of community interaction, having a rather negative impact on the health and wellbeing of our communities.1

Rural areas tend to have more extreme problems with lower rates of economic activity and higher levels of long-term unemployment. In East Gippsland there are many challenges in being able to sustain a connected, strong and vibrant rural community and transport plays a key role within this.

East Gippsland Shire Council’s submission to the inquiry is divided into five parts. The first section is an overview of East Gippsland. Parts two to five refer to current train services, issues and barriers along with solutions and recommendations to improve train services that will not only benefit East Gippsland residents but residents across the region of Gippsland.

1. OVERVIEW OF EAST GIPPSLAND

The remote location and demographics of East Gippsland define and influence the region. Subsequently, this submission must be understood in context of these considerable factors.

East Gippsland covers an area of 20,931 sq km with a population of 41,064; the majority of East Gippsland communities are isolated with essential services primarily located in the larger townships across Gippsland; Bairnsdale, Sale and .

Due to the remoteness, East Gippsland has a low average income, high unemployment and a rapidly growing ageing community. In recent years environmental, emergency and health issues have impacted on our rural communities with numerous episodes of bushfires, floods and a prolonged drought.

East Gippsland Shire faces a number of diverse and complex challenges associated with the geography and demography of such a large rural area and transport disadvantage needs to be considered within this rural context.

1Wilkinson, R. and Marmot, M. (eds.), The Solid Facts, World Health Organisation, 1998, p26 30 June 2009 2 Ageing Population and Future Multi Purpose Taxi Program Demands

Throughout Victoria the population is ageing with the number of people over 60 years likely to increase to 27% by 2021. Within East Gippsland this projection is estimated to increase further reaching 44% by 2021.

A high proportion of this demographic will experience reduced mobility and be more conducive to disability and eligibility of the MPTP, requiring the support of improved and extended access and mobility services throughout the region.

Subsequently greater demand for the MPTP will be experienced within the region with an increasing proportion of the population requiring accessible transport.

Accessibility/Remoteness Index for (ARIA)

The least accessible Statistical Local Areas (SLAs) in Gippsland are and the balance of East Gippsland (not Bairnsdale or the South West), with scores of 4.8 and 3.8 respectively. This indicates they have significantly restricted accessibility to goods, services, employment, education and opportunities for social interaction.

The remoteness values for localities in the ARIA index are derived from the road distance to service centres. This index does not attempt to measure isolation using other variables (eg. percentage of population with access to independent transport).

Residents do not have access to V/Line services at peak times (commuter) and the limited off peak public transport available often does not provide the appropriate connections to Gippsland’s major service centres.

Household Car Ownership

Car ownership in the Shire is very high with more than half the total number of households having more than one car.

This reflects the long distances between towns and the lack of public transport across the region.

East Gippsland Household Car Ownership, 2006 0 vehicles 6.6%

1 vehicle 35.7%

2 or more vehicles 53.6%

Not stated 4.0%

Distances between towns in East Gippsland Mallacoota - Bairnsdale 240km

Cann River - Bairnsdale 170km

Orbost - Bairnsdale 100km

Lakes Entrance - Bairnsdale 40km

Omeo - Bairnsdale 125km

30 June 2009 3 2. BAIRNSDALE TO TRAIN SERVICE – LONG HAUL

Bairnsdale has three train services to Melbourne per day between Monday to Saturday and two services on Sundays.

The train was reinstated to the Stratford – Bairnsdale line in 2004. Statistics indicate a 107 per cent increase in patronage between Sale and Bairnsdale compared to 2004/2005.

Residents in East Gippsland have indeed embraced the passenger train service to the point where the train is often over its capacity. To secure a seat from Bairnsdale, passengers now need to pre book tickets well in advance.

Train Returns to Bairnsdale, 2 May 2004

(a) Overcrowding of Gippsland Trains Due to the overwhelming success of the Bairnsdale passenger train service overcrowding is a frequent problem between Traralgon and Melbourne. Passenger trips increased by 47% on the Gippsland line which is almost double that of other regions (refer to V/line Performance Results 09).The Gippsland country line is the only regional rail service that metropolitan passengers can board using Metcards. This poses issues and concerns of country passengers having to stand when on long haul trips travelling to Bairnsdale and further east to and Batemans Bay.

(b) Old Train Stock Older train carriages used on the Bairnsdale line have limited accessibility for passengers with mobility aids and are at their capacity due to the vast increase of passengers.

(c) Gippsland Line – interface between V/line and Connex (metropolitan trains) The Bairnsdale line into Melbourne is more than often not on time. This makes it very difficult to use the train for business meetings, medical/specialist appointments and connections to Tullamarine Airport.

We understand the Dandenong rail corridor is at its capacity. Between Pakenham and Dandenong, Gippsland trains are required to travel behind delayed metropolitan trains, who are required to stop at metropolitan stations, that is now picking up the increased number of passengers using metropolitan train services.

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2.1 Recommendations and Solutions

2.1.1 Overcrowding • Upgrade carriages to provide accessible, comfortable and safer public transport; • Upgrade Rosedale, Sale, Stratford and Bairnsdale platforms to accommodate more carriages; and • Exclude Metcard holders boarding V/line country passenger trains at Pakenham

2.1.2 Old Train Stock – Bairnsdale to Sale Upgrade tracks at the Stratford Bridge and/or install new rail bridge at Stratford to ensure new accessible train stock is available on Bairnsdale line; and

2.1.3 Bairnsdale/Gippsland Rail Line Interface between V/line and Connex (metropolitan trains) • Install passing loops between Pakenham and Traralgon and Traralgon to Bairnsdale to service both passenger and freight trains in sharing the line at the same time; • Build a dedicated V/line platform at Pakenham – third platform ƒ Provide infrastructure to triplicate the line through to Dandenong and/or Caulfield; and ƒ V/line rail passenger rail services to have priority over metropolitan trains.

3. INTER REGIONAL COMMUTER TRANSPORT

Currently, there is no suitable inter regional train services east of Traralgon.

The V/Line train between Bairnsdale and Traralgon does not provide an inter regional commuter service. As a result East Gippsland residents lack employment and educational opportunities to the two major centres of Sale and Traralgon.

There are no commuter train connections to Monash University campus in Churchill. Currently our young people are forced to move to Melbourne to access tertiary education which poses a number of barriers that include economic and social challenges for our rural and remote students who are forced to relocate to Melbourne.

Residents are also unable to access EGTAFE Fulham campus in Sale or access broader educational opportunities at Gippsland TAFE in Traralgon due to lack of train commuter connections.

Furthermore, the existing V/Line timetable between Bairnsdale and Traralgon is unable to service residents who need to attend specialist/medical and businesses appointments in Sale or Traralgon.

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3.1 Recommendations and Solutions

3.1.1 Implement inter regional commuter train services between Bairnsdale and Traralgon;

3.1.2 Install passing loop at Rosedale and or Stratford to allow for both commuter and fright services to share the line at the same time between Bairnsdale and Traralgon; and

3.1.3 Introduce inter regional rail weekend services between Bairnsdale and Traralgon.

Map of Gippsland, Victoria

30 June 2009 6

Map of East Gippsland, Victoria

4. SECURE CAR PARKING

Secure and safe car parking has been identified as a major concern and issue at Bairnsdale, Sale and Traralgon railway stations. Due to long distances required to travel to Melbourne (approx. 4 hour journey) to access essential services and business appointments residents would drive their vehicle to their nearest railway station at Bairnsdale, Sale or Traralgon if there was secure overnight parking.

4. Recommendations and Solutions

4.1.1 Provide secure and safe car parking at Bairnsdale, Sale and Traralgon; and

4.1.2 Provide more car parking spaces at Bairnsdale, Sale and Traralgon.

Bairnsdale Railway Station

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5. ENVIRONMENT

Greenhouse emissions from vehicles vary between 1.8 tonnes of CO2 per annum for a small car to 3.8 tonnes of CO2 per annum for a large car.

If a reasonable level of inter public transport was available residents would be encouraged to leave their car either at home or drive to their nearest train station, there would be a significant reduction in CO2 emissions. This is assuming an ‘average’ car generates about 3.0 tonnes of CO2 each year and, say, 500 cars could be used less often, the level of CO2 emissions could be reduced by 1,000 -1,200 tonnes per annum.

East Gippsland Shire is keen to achieve a reduced Carbon Footprint for our community. While it is appreciated that the provision of public transport in a locality such as East Gippsland is challenging, we believe that there are real opportunities to capitalise on the use of rail services to maximise the environmental benefits that is achieved through reduced car usage in East Gippsland.

5. Recommendations and Solutions

5.1.1 Implement inter regional commuter train services between Bairnsdale and Traralgon;

5.1.2 Trial inter regional weekend rail services between Bairnsdale and Traralgon;

5.1.3 Provide secure and safe car parking at Bairnsdale, Sale and Traralgon train stations; and

5.1.4 Provide more car parking spaces at Bairnsdale, Sale and Traralgon.

Images of East Gippsland 30 June 2009 8