FAST RAIL VISION
REVEALED: Council’s proposed routes
COMMUTING between Geelong and Melbourne would be cut to half an hour via three multibillion-dollar fast rail options put forward in a Geelong council report.
The “high-level technical report” reveals tunnels and sky rail may be needed to build dedicated fast rail tracks out of Southern Cross Station.
COMMUTING between Geelong and Melbourne would be cut to half an hour via three multibillion-dollar fast rail options developed by leading consultants.
As Geelong council lobbies the State Government on the cityshaping project, a “high level technical report” reveals billiondollar tunnels between Melbourne and Footscray, and sky rail along Geelong Road in Melbourne’s west may be needed to build dedicated fast rail tracks out of Southern Cross Station.
The council has raised the possibility of a levy forcing commuters and ratepayers to subsidise the project.
The Geelong Advertiser can reveal trains would operate at 200km/h along three routes that have been costed and developed by Raylink Consulting for council.
The consultant’s preferred option following the route of the existing regional rail link costing $10.5 billion would get commuters to Melbourne in 32 minutes.
It would require two 7km tunnels from West Footscray to Southern Cross Station passing under the Maribyrnong River costing $1.57 billion, and twin 2km tunnels through Sunshine costing $546 million.
Sky rail or rail under road at Ardeer station will also be needed for this route.
Geelong Mayor Bruce Harwood said he had sought a meeting with Transport Minister Jacinta Allan to discuss the contents of the report.
“This is still a very early stage of the whole project. We have to present to the government why they should engage. It hasn’t been done before in this manner,” Mr Harwood said.
“With the continued population growth in the Geelong region and the increasing opportunities for employment, the need for a fast rail service has never been stronger.”
Other options developed by Raylink Consulting include: GEELONG ROAD OPTION Costing $11 billion and delivering a 28-minute commute via Brooklyn and Altona in Melbourne’s west requiring a 8.1 kilometre tunnel out of Southern Cross, and a 2.6 kilometre tunnel at Williams Landing; and WESTERN FREEWAY OPTION Costing $9 billion and delivering a 31-minute commute via an 8km tunnel from Southern Cross to West Footscray. The rail line would then pass through Brooklyn, along unused land in Derrimut and connect to land near the RRL at Truganina.
Consultants John Hearsch and Ray Bartlett say the regional rail link option is preferred because it could be developed as part of the electrification of the existing rail line to Wyndham Vale and reduce overall cost.
The Raylink Consulting report reveals: SPACE for new tracks will not be available in inner Melbourne once the Melbourne Airport rail link is built; THE REGIONAL Rail Link will be at capacity before 2030; and NEW TRAINS capable of running on both diesel and electric power would be needed to avoid problems with diesel fumes in tunnels.
Last year the State Government allocated $50 million to investigate how fast rail to Geelong could be developed as a part of the airport rail link. Premier Daniel Andrews flagged a 2025 start date, after the completion of the $11 billion Metro Tunnel which will add two 9km tunnels and five underground stations in inner Melbourne.
“With the continued population growth in the Geelong region and the increasing opportunities for employment, the need for a fast rail service has never been stronger.” GEELONG MAYOR BRUCE HARWOOD