Warrnambool, Victoria’s largest coastal city outside Port Phillip Bay, is situated at the terminus of the South Western rail corridor. The South Western rail corridor services a population, including Geelong, in excess of 350,000 people. Currently, four daily return services operate between Warrnambool and Melbourne. The benefits of rail Improved public transport means better social connectivity and improved two-way opportunities to conduct business, access sporting and cultural events, educational institutions and medical services. Warrnambool has a Base Hospital which services Victoria’s to be a significant driver of growth in regional Victoria. This South West and south-east South Australia. It also has a is evident along the rail corridors serviced by the VLocity Deakin University campus and the main campus for the trains: Geelong (51 Mon-Fri daily services), Ballarat (20 South West Institute of TAFE. Along with Warrnambool’s services), Bendigo (20 services) and the Latrobe Valley professional services these facilities contribute to our city (19 services). The rail services in these centres, and being a regional destination with a growing population. other Victorian regional cities, are complemented by dual The provision of reliable and regular rail services has proven carriageway roads. The benefits of rail continued Accessible, thriving regional centres help ease pressure presence of the rail service – which includes a dedicated on an ever-expanding Melbourne caused by a burgeoning station for the Deakin University Sherwood Park campus. population. Warrnambool City Council believes there is scope to Warrnambool derives considerable benefit from the further enhance the service. Recent progress In January 2017 Council welcomed the addition of a fourth daily return service between Warrnambool and Melbourne. The Victorian Government also announced it was commencing a program to upgrade 20 rail crossings along the South Western corridor that would help restore rail travel times to about three hours and thirty minutes. The Victorian Government has also indicated improvements to parking and lighting at the Warrnambool Railway Station will be made towards the end of 2017 The future In the longer term, WCC is seeking five daily return services from Warrnambool to Geelong, along with travel faster journeys of two hours to Geelong and three hours to Melbourne. A service to Geelong – potentially an express service – would allow South West residents to transfer to one of the 49 daily return services between Geelong and Melbourne. Currently the service does not compare favourably to Warrnambool and Melbourne for passengers using transport by private vehicle. wheelchairs. An additional passing loop is required for the addition of a An upgrade of the station would also assist with its function fifth service. as an important regional hub for the Hamilton and Portland communities whose residents come to Warrnambool for The added loop would eliminate any potential impact on connecting train services and for educational, business and existing freight services and allow for an expansion of medical services. freight carrying capacity. Warrnambool City Council’s desire to see the number of Over time an upgrade of the ageing rolling stock is rail services increased is shared by the Great South Coast desirable. In recent years issues have arisen around some Group of Councils which include the municipalities of V/Line carriages being inaccessible to wheelchair users. Moyne, Corangamite, Southern Grampians, Glenelg and This is a deterrent to rail travel and in some instances has Colac-Otway. Residents within these municipalities access meant that V/Line has had to subsidise taxi fares between the South Western Victoria rail line. Our ask • Construction of additional passing loop (near Camperdown). • Fifth weekday express service to Geelong in 90 minutes; express from Geelong to Melbourne. • A long-term plan for the South Western Rail Corridor that considers: track and signalling upgrades; sections of track duplication; replacement of ageing rolling stock and travel times. .