SARDINE EXPRESS

PUBLIC TRANSPORT USERS, OPPOSITION JOIN CALL FOR 8-CARRIAGE MEGA-V/LINES TO FIX THE ...

A PLAN to run longer trains on the Geelong line has gained the backing of the Public Transport Users Association and the Opposition.

The Rail Futures Institute says the line’s immediate woes could be alleviated by running eight-carriage trains to and from Geelong.

The independent advocacy group says the line, which hit 7.7 million trips last financial year, is buckling under the weight of growing patronage.

To address congestion, V/Line will add 69 services to the Geelong line later this month.

RFI secretary Bill Russell said longer trains were a shortterm fix for the line requiring a $1 billion investment by 2022 to safeguard its future.

“We have to run longer trains. We’re recommending eight-carriage trains, which will hold roughly 40 per cent more people,” Dr Russell said.

“The platforms between Melbourne and Wyndham Vale are already the right length to accommodate eight-carriage trains.”

He said some platforms between Little River and Waurn Ponds would need to be extended.

V/Line ran seven-carriage trains on the Geelong line before the opening of the Regional Rail Link in 2015,” he said.

The Geelong line is regional Victoria’s busiest and swelling patronage presents an ongoing challenge.

V/Line data shows the operator has failed to meet its punctuality target on the Geelong line in 32 of the past 35 months.

V/Line spokeswoman Ebony Jordan said the regional fleet had run as three and six- carriage trains since April last year.

“Based on the current fleet composition it is not possible to operate an eight-carriage train because the rail cars are delivered in three-car units,” Ms Jordan said.

“At present, it is not possible to run nine-carriage trains because most station platforms are not long enough.”

The Rail Futures Institute’s long-term project recommendations include relocating Corio station to near the inter- section of the Geelong Ring Road and Princes Freeway, running express trains to and from Geelong and electrifying the Regional Rail Link to Wyndham Vale.

A spokesman for Public Transport Minister Jacinta Allan, Ben McNair, said duplicating the line between Waurn Ponds and South Geelong would alleviate congestion.

“(It) will improve reliability and mean that we can run more trains, more often,” Mr McNair said. It is understood a business case for the duplication will be completed in the first half of next year.

Opposition Leader Matthew Guy said the State Government needed a long-term plan for the Geelong line.

“If trains need to be longer, they should be and the State Government should have addressed the issue months ago,” Mr Guy said.

Deakin University will host a forum on the future of the Geelong line at Costa Hall on Wednesday from 7.30pm.