The
Regional Rail Link is a 47.5 km railway track currently under construction through the western suburbs of Melbourne from
Southern Cross StationSouthern Cross is a major railway station and transport hub in Melbourne Docklands, Victoria, Australia. It is located on Spencer Street between Collins and La Trobe Streets at the western edge of the central business district...
, running through
SunshineSunshine is a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia lying 11 to 13 km west of the CBD. Its Local Government Area is the City of Brimbank. At the 2006 Census, Sunshine had a population of 8,070.-History:...
,
TarneitTarneit is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 25 km south-west from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Wyndham....
and meeting the Geelong Line at
West WerribeeWerribee is a city in Melbourne, Australia, 32 km south-west from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Wyndham. At the 2006 Census, Werribee had a population of 36,641. Statistically, Werribee is considered part of Greater Melbourne.Werribee is...
. It is expected to cost four billion
Australian dollarThe Australian dollar is the currency of the Commonwealth of Australia, including Christmas Island, Cocos Islands, and Norfolk Island, as well as the independent Pacific Island states of Kiribati, Nauru and Tuvalu...
s, with construction expected to commence with preliminary works in 2009, and the full-scale project to commence construction in 2010. Completion is scheduled for in late 2014. The preliminary route between Sunshine and Werribee was released for public consultation in June 2009, with the route through
FootscrayFootscray is a suburb 5 km west of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Its Local Government Area is the City of Maribyrnong. At the 2006 Census, Footscray had a population of 11,401....
not being announced until July 2010. The ceremonial start of construction was at Southern Cross Station on 27 August 2009. In August 2010 the Regional Rail Link Authority was created by the State Government to manage the delivery of the project.
In February 2011, the Baillieu government announced that that RRL project was under review because of 'chaotic planning' and a 'massive blowout' in cost. The Baillieu government now believes the price tag for the rail line stands at about $880 million more than estimated by the previous (Brumby) government. The new Transport minister, Mr Mulder, said the government was now examining the funding and the timing of the railway line's construction, before deciding how to proceed.
Problem
The biggest problem facing regional rail commuters in Western Victoria when travelling to Melbourne is delays in the Melbourne suburban area, where the trains operated by
V/LineV/Line is a not for profit regional passenger train and coach service in Victoria, Australia. It was created after the split-up of VicRail in 1983. V/Line is owned by the V/Line Corporation which is a Victorian State Government statutory authority...
share tracks with Melbourne's metropolitan commuter network, currently operated and managed by
Metro Trains MelbourneMetro Trains Melbourne is the current franchise operator of the suburban railway network of Melbourne, Australia. Metro Trains Melbourne is a joint venture led by Hong Kong based MTR Corporation together with John Holland Group and United Group Rail .Metro Trains Melbourne operates a fleet of 381...
. As a result it takes only a single delayed metropolitan service operating ahead of a regional service, to severely hamper the on-time running of the regional service, and late running regional trains are often placed in front of on-time but stopping all stations suburban trains. In major disruptions each operator has been known to blame the other for causing a line to be closed.
Solution
A separate line for regional trains from Geelong, then called the "Tarneit link", was included as a possible long-term rail option in the State Government's 2006 Meeting Our Transport Challenges report. Costed at around
A$The Australian dollar is the currency of the Commonwealth of Australia, including Christmas Island, Cocos Islands, and Norfolk Island, as well as the independent Pacific Island states of Kiribati, Nauru and Tuvalu...
500 million, the link was also recommended in Sir
Rod EddingtonSir Roderick Ian Eddington is an Australian businessman. He is currently chair of the government body Infrastructure Australia, a director of News Corporation, continuing his long association with that company, and has served in other senior positions including as former CEO of British...
's East-West Link Needs Assessment study released in April 2008, but by November that year the cost was being reported as A$1.5 billion.
The project was expanded and rebranded as
Regional Rail Link when announced as part of the government's
Victorian Transport PlanThe Victorian Transport Plan is a now defunct transport planning framework for the state of Victoria, Australia announced on Monday 9 December 2008 by then Premier of Victoria, John Brumby...
of December 2008. Now with the aim of separating all regional trains between Southern Cross and Geelong, Ballarat, and Bendigo, from suburban rail movements, it will be constructed between
West WerribeeWerribee is a city in Melbourne, Australia, 32 km south-west from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Wyndham. At the 2006 Census, Werribee had a population of 36,641. Statistically, Werribee is considered part of Greater Melbourne.Werribee is...
, through Tarneit and Sunshine, and then to
Southern Cross StationSouthern Cross is a major railway station and transport hub in Melbourne Docklands, Victoria, Australia. It is located on Spencer Street between Collins and La Trobe Streets at the western edge of the central business district...
through the western suburbs of
MelbourneMelbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
. As of 12 May 2009, this project has been fully funded through the 2009 Federal Budget, which pledged A$3.2 billion, to be delivered in partnership with the Victorian Government.
On 12 July 2010 the final route through Footscray was announced by the State Government: running south of the suburban tracks until the Maribyrnong River crossing, passing over the top of the Newport bound tracks on a flyover, stopping at current platforms 1 and 2 at Footscray station, then using resumed land to pass to the south of the suburban lines past Middle Footscray and West Footscray stations. Suburban trains towards Sunshine will use their existing track except at Footscray station, where two new platforms will be built to the north.
Cost and benefits
In May 2010 the estimated cost was A$4.3 billion, and economic benefits were estimated to be A$6.2 billion.
On 5 April 2011 the new Liberal government said it would cost closer to $5 billion and 2 years longer to build.
In July 2011, the cost was A$5.3 billion and completion date is 2016.
Consequences
All passenger movements from the Geelong, Bendigo and Ballarat lines will use the Regional Rail Link, removing the potential conflicts encountered when these services share tracks with metropolitan services, which themselves are heavily overloaded. The link will also allow for more services to run, which combined with the purchase of new trains, will alleviate the heavy overcrowding on Regional Fast Rail services, particularly those from Geelong and Ballarat.
Furthermore, commissioning of platforms 15 and 16 at Southern Cross Station will also take place, expanding the number of trains that can arrive and depart from the station and boosting passenger movements at the station. This will also allow regional services using the Regional Rail Link to arrive and depart from Southern Cross without the need to cross tracks, across the path of metropolitan services.
Timeline
- 2 July 2011 - Construction begins, with the shifting of existing railway tracks between Sunshine and Tottenham.
- 18 July 2011 - Sydenham, Ballarat and Bendigo lines re-open after being closed for 2 weeks during the Victorian School Holidays to allow construction of the RRL
- 2016 - expected completion of RRL Project
Construction
It is expected that construction will commence from Southern Cross Station, with the opening of platforms 15 and 16, and then work outwards towards Sunshine - connecting to the Ballarat and Bendigo lines - and then onwards from Sunshine to West Werribee where it would meet the Geelong railway line.
The works have been divided into eight packages - an overall
railway signallingRailway signalling is a system used to control railway traffic safely, essentially to prevent trains from colliding. Being guided by fixed rails, trains are uniquely susceptible to collision; furthermore, trains cannot stop quickly, and frequently operate at speeds that do not enable them to stop...
and control systems contract, and seven sections of track:
- Southern Cross Station platforms 15 and 16 (to be carried out by the suburban operator)
- Southern Cross Station to Maribyrnong River (4.75 km)
- Maribyrnong River to West Footscray station (2.35 km)
- West Footscray to west of Sunshine station (5.0 km)
- West of Sunshine station to Deer Park West (8.4 km)
- Deer Park West to West Werribee Junction (25.5 km as a design and construct contract)
- West Werribee Junction / Geelong Line interchange (approximately 1.5 km)
Cost Effectiveness
Supporters of investment in public transport have raised questions regarding the high cost of the project, estimated to be up to four or five times more expensive than required. Supporters of public transport have also questioned why infrastructure in existing urban areas, such as the Doncaster railway line, were not funded in priority to such a vast area that is currently mostly uninhabited.
Route Options
With the path for the railway still to determined through
VictoriaFootscray is a suburb 5 km west of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Its Local Government Area is the City of Maribyrnong. At the 2006 Census, Footscray had a population of 11,401....
, one proposal involves the acquisition of up to 49 properties in
Railway PlaceRailway Place is a residential street in the western Melbourne suburb of Footscray, Victoria, Australia. The majority of the street is covered by a Heritage Overlay and was threatened with demolition as part of the Regional Rail Link project, but appears to have been spared.-Geography:Railway Place...
to widen the existing railway corridor, with local residents launching a campaign in May 2010 against that option. The other options are sharing tracks with freight trains in the existing Bunbury Street tunnel, or construction of a second rail tunnel under Footscray.
Property Acquisitions
The final route through Footscray was announced on 12 July 2010 with a surface route through Footscray. The houses at Railway Place were spared, with 26 homes and 84 businesses on Buckley Street being acquired instead. Many residents did not find out their homes were to be acquired until told by visiting journalists, waiting up to 24 hours for official notification from Department of Transport representatives. A Government spokeswoman said "every effort" had been made to contact the households affected, but their planned visit had been cancelled because bureaucrats delivering the bad news did not want to be filmed by the media.
Budget Overrun
With a change of government after the state election in November 2010, the RRL project came in for the scrutiny of the incoming Transport Minister, Terry Mulder. Mr Mulder revealed in a radio interview on 4 February 2011 that:
"The project is currently being re-profiled, as they would say, because the federal government has pulled $500m out of this term of government, pushed $500m out to 15/16 (fin yr). But also, when I took over the role as minister, I was presented with a document that showed me that the project had blown out by $700M plus $180m for level crossing upgrades at Sunshine - or, grade separations - that hadn't been included, plus unfunded rolling stock." ... "The fact of the matter is no decision has been made at this time. As you could understand, Regional Rail Link, the Department of Transport, Treasury and Finance are working through the project." ... "It's going to be re-profiled. We don't have the capacity within our budget to take up what the federal government is pulling out. Well, pushed-back, re-profiled - there's a number of options that are being looked at at the moment - re-scoped, we've got to work out what we can afford to do."
Noise and Pollution
Further controversy emerged with the release of reports from the Victorian Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), obtained by the Sunday Age through a freedom of information request. These reports criticise the methodology and results contained in assessments submitted by the RRL team to former state planning minister, Justin Madden, as part of the project planning referral. The EPA reports state that,
"In Footscray, for the most exposed residents, a vast majority of the population will experience chronic noise-induced sleep disturbance, with very significant
proportions highly disturbed...For the most exposed residents in other areas, almost half the community will experience chronic noise-induced sleep disturbance.".
The reports also raised concerns about the Footscray park Railway Reserve where, the EPA predicted, the public would be exposed to dangerous levels of nitrogen dioxide from increased diesel train traffic. The EPA noted that planned risk assessments had not been done by the Department of Transport.
Mr Madden viewed the EPA reports in September 2010, but ruled that an Environment Effects Statement (EES) will not be required for Section-1 of the RRL project,
“Section 1 of the Regional Rail Link project– from Moonee Ponds Creek, West Melbourne to Deer Park - is in an urban area along side existing rail infrastructure,” Mr Madden said.
“I have evaluated the need for an EES for the project against the Ministerial Guidelines for Assessment of Environmental Effects under the Environmental Effects Act 1978 and concluded that, subject to the stated conditions, the proposed works are unlikely to have significant environmental effects.”
In response to the emergence of the EPA reports, a government spokesperson accused the former Labor government of a
"scandalous cover-up" and vowed that
"Potential health and environment issues that have been uncovered will also now be fully investigated".
Lines
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2011}}
{{Use Australian English|date=September 2011}}
The
Regional Rail Link is a 47.5 km railway track currently under construction through the western suburbs of Melbourne from
Southern Cross StationSouthern Cross is a major railway station and transport hub in Melbourne Docklands, Victoria, Australia. It is located on Spencer Street between Collins and La Trobe Streets at the western edge of the central business district...
, running through
SunshineSunshine is a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia lying 11 to 13 km west of the CBD. Its Local Government Area is the City of Brimbank. At the 2006 Census, Sunshine had a population of 8,070.-History:...
,
TarneitTarneit is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 25 km south-west from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Wyndham....
and meeting the Geelong Line at
West WerribeeWerribee is a city in Melbourne, Australia, 32 km south-west from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Wyndham. At the 2006 Census, Werribee had a population of 36,641. Statistically, Werribee is considered part of Greater Melbourne.Werribee is...
. It is expected to cost four billion
Australian dollarThe Australian dollar is the currency of the Commonwealth of Australia, including Christmas Island, Cocos Islands, and Norfolk Island, as well as the independent Pacific Island states of Kiribati, Nauru and Tuvalu...
s, with construction expected to commence with preliminary works in 2009, and the full-scale project to commence construction in 2010. Completion is scheduled for in late 2014. The preliminary route between Sunshine and Werribee was released for public consultation in June 2009, with the route through
FootscrayFootscray is a suburb 5 km west of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Its Local Government Area is the City of Maribyrnong. At the 2006 Census, Footscray had a population of 11,401....
not being announced until July 2010. The ceremonial start of construction was at Southern Cross Station on 27 August 2009. In August 2010 the Regional Rail Link Authority was created by the State Government to manage the delivery of the project.
In February 2011, the Baillieu government announced that that RRL project was under review because of 'chaotic planning' and a 'massive blowout' in cost. The Baillieu government now believes the price tag for the rail line stands at about $880 million more than estimated by the previous (Brumby) government. The new Transport minister, Mr Mulder, said the government was now examining the funding and the timing of the railway line's construction, before deciding how to proceed.
Problem
{{externalvideo|video1=
A general overview of the project}}
The biggest problem facing regional rail commuters in Western Victoria when travelling to Melbourne is delays in the Melbourne suburban area, where the trains operated by
V/LineV/Line is a not for profit regional passenger train and coach service in Victoria, Australia. It was created after the split-up of VicRail in 1983. V/Line is owned by the V/Line Corporation which is a Victorian State Government statutory authority...
share tracks with Melbourne's metropolitan commuter network, currently operated and managed by
Metro Trains MelbourneMetro Trains Melbourne is the current franchise operator of the suburban railway network of Melbourne, Australia. Metro Trains Melbourne is a joint venture led by Hong Kong based MTR Corporation together with John Holland Group and United Group Rail .Metro Trains Melbourne operates a fleet of 381...
. As a result it takes only a single delayed metropolitan service operating ahead of a regional service, to severely hamper the on-time running of the regional service, and late running regional trains are often placed in front of on-time but stopping all stations suburban trains. In major disruptions each operator has been known to blame the other for causing a line to be closed.
Solution
A separate line for regional trains from Geelong, then called the "Tarneit link", was included as a possible long-term rail option in the State Government's 2006 Meeting Our Transport Challenges report. Costed at around
A$The Australian dollar is the currency of the Commonwealth of Australia, including Christmas Island, Cocos Islands, and Norfolk Island, as well as the independent Pacific Island states of Kiribati, Nauru and Tuvalu...
500 million, the link was also recommended in Sir
Rod EddingtonSir Roderick Ian Eddington is an Australian businessman. He is currently chair of the government body Infrastructure Australia, a director of News Corporation, continuing his long association with that company, and has served in other senior positions including as former CEO of British...
's East-West Link Needs Assessment study released in April 2008, but by November that year the cost was being reported as A$1.5 billion.
The project was expanded and rebranded as
Regional Rail Link when announced as part of the government's
Victorian Transport PlanThe Victorian Transport Plan is a now defunct transport planning framework for the state of Victoria, Australia announced on Monday 9 December 2008 by then Premier of Victoria, John Brumby...
of December 2008. Now with the aim of separating all regional trains between Southern Cross and Geelong, Ballarat, and Bendigo, from suburban rail movements, it will be constructed between
West WerribeeWerribee is a city in Melbourne, Australia, 32 km south-west from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Wyndham. At the 2006 Census, Werribee had a population of 36,641. Statistically, Werribee is considered part of Greater Melbourne.Werribee is...
, through Tarneit and Sunshine, and then to
Southern Cross StationSouthern Cross is a major railway station and transport hub in Melbourne Docklands, Victoria, Australia. It is located on Spencer Street between Collins and La Trobe Streets at the western edge of the central business district...
through the western suburbs of
MelbourneMelbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
. As of 12 May 2009, this project has been fully funded through the 2009 Federal Budget, which pledged A$3.2 billion, to be delivered in partnership with the Victorian Government.
On 12 July 2010 the final route through Footscray was announced by the State Government: running south of the suburban tracks until the Maribyrnong River crossing, passing over the top of the Newport bound tracks on a flyover, stopping at current platforms 1 and 2 at Footscray station, then using resumed land to pass to the south of the suburban lines past Middle Footscray and West Footscray stations. Suburban trains towards Sunshine will use their existing track except at Footscray station, where two new platforms will be built to the north.
Cost and benefits
In May 2010 the estimated cost was A$4.3 billion, and economic benefits were estimated to be A$6.2 billion.
On 5 April 2011 the new Liberal government said it would cost closer to $5 billion and 2 years longer to build.
In July 2011, the cost was A$5.3 billion and completion date is 2016.
Consequences
All passenger movements from the Geelong, Bendigo and Ballarat lines will use the Regional Rail Link, removing the potential conflicts encountered when these services share tracks with metropolitan services, which themselves are heavily overloaded. The link will also allow for more services to run, which combined with the purchase of new trains, will alleviate the heavy overcrowding on Regional Fast Rail services, particularly those from Geelong and Ballarat.
Furthermore, commissioning of platforms 15 and 16 at Southern Cross Station will also take place, expanding the number of trains that can arrive and depart from the station and boosting passenger movements at the station. This will also allow regional services using the Regional Rail Link to arrive and depart from Southern Cross without the need to cross tracks, across the path of metropolitan services.
Timeline
- 2 July 2011 - Construction begins, with the shifting of existing railway tracks between Sunshine and Tottenham.
- 18 July 2011 - Sydenham, Ballarat and Bendigo lines re-open after being closed for 2 weeks during the Victorian School Holidays to allow construction of the RRL
- 2016 - expected completion of RRL Project
Construction
{{externalvideo|video1=
A detailed animation of the actual railway line}}
It is expected that construction will commence from Southern Cross Station, with the opening of platforms 15 and 16, and then work outwards towards Sunshine - connecting to the Ballarat and Bendigo lines - and then onwards from Sunshine to West Werribee where it would meet the Geelong railway line.
The works have been divided into eight packages - an overall
railway signallingRailway signalling is a system used to control railway traffic safely, essentially to prevent trains from colliding. Being guided by fixed rails, trains are uniquely susceptible to collision; furthermore, trains cannot stop quickly, and frequently operate at speeds that do not enable them to stop...
and control systems contract, and seven sections of track:
- Southern Cross Station platforms 15 and 16 (to be carried out by the suburban operator)
- Southern Cross Station to Maribyrnong River (4.75 km)
- Maribyrnong River to West Footscray station (2.35 km)
- West Footscray to west of Sunshine station (5.0 km)
- West of Sunshine station to Deer Park West (8.4 km)
- Deer Park West to West Werribee Junction (25.5 km as a design and construct contract)
- West Werribee Junction / Geelong Line interchange (approximately 1.5 km)
Cost Effectiveness
Supporters of investment in public transport have raised questions regarding the high cost of the project, estimated to be up to four or five times more expensive than required. Supporters of public transport have also questioned why infrastructure in existing urban areas, such as the Doncaster railway line, were not funded in priority to such a vast area that is currently mostly uninhabited.{{Citation needed|date=September 2010}}
Route Options
With the path for the railway still to determined through
VictoriaFootscray is a suburb 5 km west of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Its Local Government Area is the City of Maribyrnong. At the 2006 Census, Footscray had a population of 11,401....
, one proposal involves the acquisition of up to 49 properties in
Railway PlaceRailway Place is a residential street in the western Melbourne suburb of Footscray, Victoria, Australia. The majority of the street is covered by a Heritage Overlay and was threatened with demolition as part of the Regional Rail Link project, but appears to have been spared.-Geography:Railway Place...
to widen the existing railway corridor, with local residents launching a campaign in May 2010 against that option. The other options are sharing tracks with freight trains in the existing Bunbury Street tunnel, or construction of a second rail tunnel under Footscray.
Property Acquisitions
The final route through Footscray was announced on 12 July 2010 with a surface route through Footscray. The houses at Railway Place were spared, with 26 homes and 84 businesses on Buckley Street being acquired instead. Many residents did not find out their homes were to be acquired until told by visiting journalists, waiting up to 24 hours for official notification from Department of Transport representatives. A Government spokeswoman said "every effort" had been made to contact the households affected, but their planned visit had been cancelled because bureaucrats delivering the bad news did not want to be filmed by the media.
Budget Overrun
With a change of government after the state election in November 2010, the RRL project came in for the scrutiny of the incoming Transport Minister, Terry Mulder. Mr Mulder revealed in a radio interview on 4 February 2011 that:
"The project is currently being re-profiled, as they would say, because the federal government has pulled $500m out of this term of government, pushed $500m out to 15/16 (fin yr). But also, when I took over the role as minister, I was presented with a document that showed me that the project had blown out by $700M plus $180m for level crossing upgrades at Sunshine - or, grade separations - that hadn't been included, plus unfunded rolling stock." ... "The fact of the matter is no decision has been made at this time. As you could understand, Regional Rail Link, the Department of Transport, Treasury and Finance are working through the project." ... "It's going to be re-profiled. We don't have the capacity within our budget to take up what the federal government is pulling out. Well, pushed-back, re-profiled - there's a number of options that are being looked at at the moment - re-scoped, we've got to work out what we can afford to do."
Noise and Pollution
Further controversy emerged with the release of reports from the Victorian Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), obtained by the Sunday Age through a freedom of information request. These reports criticise the methodology and results contained in assessments submitted by the RRL team to former state planning minister, Justin Madden, as part of the project planning referral. The EPA reports state that,
"In Footscray, for the most exposed residents, a vast majority of the population will experience chronic noise-induced sleep disturbance, with very significant
proportions highly disturbed...For the most exposed residents in other areas, almost half the community will experience chronic noise-induced sleep disturbance.".
The reports also raised concerns about the Footscray park Railway Reserve where, the EPA predicted, the public would be exposed to dangerous levels of nitrogen dioxide from increased diesel train traffic. The EPA noted that planned risk assessments had not been done by the Department of Transport.
Mr Madden viewed the EPA reports in September 2010, but ruled that an Environment Effects Statement (EES) will not be required for Section-1 of the RRL project,
“Section 1 of the Regional Rail Link project– from Moonee Ponds Creek, West Melbourne to Deer Park - is in an urban area along side existing rail infrastructure,” Mr Madden said.
“I have evaluated the need for an EES for the project against the Ministerial Guidelines for Assessment of Environmental Effects under the Environmental Effects Act 1978 and concluded that, subject to the stated conditions, the proposed works are unlikely to have significant environmental effects.”
In response to the emergence of the EPA reports, a government spokesperson accused the former Labor government of a
"scandalous cover-up" and vowed that
"Potential health and environment issues that have been uncovered will also now be fully investigated".
Lines
{{UKrail-header2|Regional Rail Link|#AB53AC}}
{{BS-table}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2011}}
{{Use Australian English|date=September 2011}}
The
Regional Rail Link is a 47.5 km railway track currently under construction through the western suburbs of Melbourne from
Southern Cross StationSouthern Cross is a major railway station and transport hub in Melbourne Docklands, Victoria, Australia. It is located on Spencer Street between Collins and La Trobe Streets at the western edge of the central business district...
, running through
SunshineSunshine is a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia lying 11 to 13 km west of the CBD. Its Local Government Area is the City of Brimbank. At the 2006 Census, Sunshine had a population of 8,070.-History:...
,
TarneitTarneit is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 25 km south-west from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Wyndham....
and meeting the Geelong Line at
West WerribeeWerribee is a city in Melbourne, Australia, 32 km south-west from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Wyndham. At the 2006 Census, Werribee had a population of 36,641. Statistically, Werribee is considered part of Greater Melbourne.Werribee is...
. It is expected to cost four billion
Australian dollarThe Australian dollar is the currency of the Commonwealth of Australia, including Christmas Island, Cocos Islands, and Norfolk Island, as well as the independent Pacific Island states of Kiribati, Nauru and Tuvalu...
s, with construction expected to commence with preliminary works in 2009, and the full-scale project to commence construction in 2010. Completion is scheduled for in late 2014. The preliminary route between Sunshine and Werribee was released for public consultation in June 2009, with the route through
FootscrayFootscray is a suburb 5 km west of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Its Local Government Area is the City of Maribyrnong. At the 2006 Census, Footscray had a population of 11,401....
not being announced until July 2010. The ceremonial start of construction was at Southern Cross Station on 27 August 2009. In August 2010 the Regional Rail Link Authority was created by the State Government to manage the delivery of the project.
In February 2011, the Baillieu government announced that that RRL project was under review because of 'chaotic planning' and a 'massive blowout' in cost. The Baillieu government now believes the price tag for the rail line stands at about $880 million more than estimated by the previous (Brumby) government. The new Transport minister, Mr Mulder, said the government was now examining the funding and the timing of the railway line's construction, before deciding how to proceed.
Problem
{{externalvideo|video1=
A general overview of the project}}
The biggest problem facing regional rail commuters in Western Victoria when travelling to Melbourne is delays in the Melbourne suburban area, where the trains operated by
V/LineV/Line is a not for profit regional passenger train and coach service in Victoria, Australia. It was created after the split-up of VicRail in 1983. V/Line is owned by the V/Line Corporation which is a Victorian State Government statutory authority...
share tracks with Melbourne's metropolitan commuter network, currently operated and managed by
Metro Trains MelbourneMetro Trains Melbourne is the current franchise operator of the suburban railway network of Melbourne, Australia. Metro Trains Melbourne is a joint venture led by Hong Kong based MTR Corporation together with John Holland Group and United Group Rail .Metro Trains Melbourne operates a fleet of 381...
. As a result it takes only a single delayed metropolitan service operating ahead of a regional service, to severely hamper the on-time running of the regional service, and late running regional trains are often placed in front of on-time but stopping all stations suburban trains. In major disruptions each operator has been known to blame the other for causing a line to be closed.
Solution
A separate line for regional trains from Geelong, then called the "Tarneit link", was included as a possible long-term rail option in the State Government's 2006 Meeting Our Transport Challenges report. Costed at around
A$The Australian dollar is the currency of the Commonwealth of Australia, including Christmas Island, Cocos Islands, and Norfolk Island, as well as the independent Pacific Island states of Kiribati, Nauru and Tuvalu...
500 million, the link was also recommended in Sir
Rod EddingtonSir Roderick Ian Eddington is an Australian businessman. He is currently chair of the government body Infrastructure Australia, a director of News Corporation, continuing his long association with that company, and has served in other senior positions including as former CEO of British...
's East-West Link Needs Assessment study released in April 2008, but by November that year the cost was being reported as A$1.5 billion.
The project was expanded and rebranded as
Regional Rail Link when announced as part of the government's
Victorian Transport PlanThe Victorian Transport Plan is a now defunct transport planning framework for the state of Victoria, Australia announced on Monday 9 December 2008 by then Premier of Victoria, John Brumby...
of December 2008. Now with the aim of separating all regional trains between Southern Cross and Geelong, Ballarat, and Bendigo, from suburban rail movements, it will be constructed between
West WerribeeWerribee is a city in Melbourne, Australia, 32 km south-west from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Wyndham. At the 2006 Census, Werribee had a population of 36,641. Statistically, Werribee is considered part of Greater Melbourne.Werribee is...
, through Tarneit and Sunshine, and then to
Southern Cross StationSouthern Cross is a major railway station and transport hub in Melbourne Docklands, Victoria, Australia. It is located on Spencer Street between Collins and La Trobe Streets at the western edge of the central business district...
through the western suburbs of
MelbourneMelbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
. As of 12 May 2009, this project has been fully funded through the 2009 Federal Budget, which pledged A$3.2 billion, to be delivered in partnership with the Victorian Government.
On 12 July 2010 the final route through Footscray was announced by the State Government: running south of the suburban tracks until the Maribyrnong River crossing, passing over the top of the Newport bound tracks on a flyover, stopping at current platforms 1 and 2 at Footscray station, then using resumed land to pass to the south of the suburban lines past Middle Footscray and West Footscray stations. Suburban trains towards Sunshine will use their existing track except at Footscray station, where two new platforms will be built to the north.
Cost and benefits
In May 2010 the estimated cost was A$4.3 billion, and economic benefits were estimated to be A$6.2 billion.
On 5 April 2011 the new Liberal government said it would cost closer to $5 billion and 2 years longer to build.
In July 2011, the cost was A$5.3 billion and completion date is 2016.
Consequences
All passenger movements from the Geelong, Bendigo and Ballarat lines will use the Regional Rail Link, removing the potential conflicts encountered when these services share tracks with metropolitan services, which themselves are heavily overloaded. The link will also allow for more services to run, which combined with the purchase of new trains, will alleviate the heavy overcrowding on Regional Fast Rail services, particularly those from Geelong and Ballarat.
Furthermore, commissioning of platforms 15 and 16 at Southern Cross Station will also take place, expanding the number of trains that can arrive and depart from the station and boosting passenger movements at the station. This will also allow regional services using the Regional Rail Link to arrive and depart from Southern Cross without the need to cross tracks, across the path of metropolitan services.
Timeline
- 2 July 2011 - Construction begins, with the shifting of existing railway tracks between Sunshine and Tottenham.
- 18 July 2011 - Sydenham, Ballarat and Bendigo lines re-open after being closed for 2 weeks during the Victorian School Holidays to allow construction of the RRL
- 2016 - expected completion of RRL Project
Construction
{{externalvideo|video1=
A detailed animation of the actual railway line}}
It is expected that construction will commence from Southern Cross Station, with the opening of platforms 15 and 16, and then work outwards towards Sunshine - connecting to the Ballarat and Bendigo lines - and then onwards from Sunshine to West Werribee where it would meet the Geelong railway line.
The works have been divided into eight packages - an overall
railway signallingRailway signalling is a system used to control railway traffic safely, essentially to prevent trains from colliding. Being guided by fixed rails, trains are uniquely susceptible to collision; furthermore, trains cannot stop quickly, and frequently operate at speeds that do not enable them to stop...
and control systems contract, and seven sections of track:
- Southern Cross Station platforms 15 and 16 (to be carried out by the suburban operator)
- Southern Cross Station to Maribyrnong River (4.75 km)
- Maribyrnong River to West Footscray station (2.35 km)
- West Footscray to west of Sunshine station (5.0 km)
- West of Sunshine station to Deer Park West (8.4 km)
- Deer Park West to West Werribee Junction (25.5 km as a design and construct contract)
- West Werribee Junction / Geelong Line interchange (approximately 1.5 km)
Cost Effectiveness
Supporters of investment in public transport have raised questions regarding the high cost of the project, estimated to be up to four or five times more expensive than required. Supporters of public transport have also questioned why infrastructure in existing urban areas, such as the Doncaster railway line, were not funded in priority to such a vast area that is currently mostly uninhabited.{{Citation needed|date=September 2010}}
Route Options
With the path for the railway still to determined through
VictoriaFootscray is a suburb 5 km west of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Its Local Government Area is the City of Maribyrnong. At the 2006 Census, Footscray had a population of 11,401....
, one proposal involves the acquisition of up to 49 properties in
Railway PlaceRailway Place is a residential street in the western Melbourne suburb of Footscray, Victoria, Australia. The majority of the street is covered by a Heritage Overlay and was threatened with demolition as part of the Regional Rail Link project, but appears to have been spared.-Geography:Railway Place...
to widen the existing railway corridor, with local residents launching a campaign in May 2010 against that option. The other options are sharing tracks with freight trains in the existing Bunbury Street tunnel, or construction of a second rail tunnel under Footscray.
Property Acquisitions
The final route through Footscray was announced on 12 July 2010 with a surface route through Footscray. The houses at Railway Place were spared, with 26 homes and 84 businesses on Buckley Street being acquired instead. Many residents did not find out their homes were to be acquired until told by visiting journalists, waiting up to 24 hours for official notification from Department of Transport representatives. A Government spokeswoman said "every effort" had been made to contact the households affected, but their planned visit had been cancelled because bureaucrats delivering the bad news did not want to be filmed by the media.
Budget Overrun
With a change of government after the state election in November 2010, the RRL project came in for the scrutiny of the incoming Transport Minister, Terry Mulder. Mr Mulder revealed in a radio interview on 4 February 2011 that:
"The project is currently being re-profiled, as they would say, because the federal government has pulled $500m out of this term of government, pushed $500m out to 15/16 (fin yr). But also, when I took over the role as minister, I was presented with a document that showed me that the project had blown out by $700M plus $180m for level crossing upgrades at Sunshine - or, grade separations - that hadn't been included, plus unfunded rolling stock." ... "The fact of the matter is no decision has been made at this time. As you could understand, Regional Rail Link, the Department of Transport, Treasury and Finance are working through the project." ... "It's going to be re-profiled. We don't have the capacity within our budget to take up what the federal government is pulling out. Well, pushed-back, re-profiled - there's a number of options that are being looked at at the moment - re-scoped, we've got to work out what we can afford to do."
Noise and Pollution
Further controversy emerged with the release of reports from the Victorian Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), obtained by the Sunday Age through a freedom of information request. These reports criticise the methodology and results contained in assessments submitted by the RRL team to former state planning minister, Justin Madden, as part of the project planning referral. The EPA reports state that,
"In Footscray, for the most exposed residents, a vast majority of the population will experience chronic noise-induced sleep disturbance, with very significant
proportions highly disturbed...For the most exposed residents in other areas, almost half the community will experience chronic noise-induced sleep disturbance.".
The reports also raised concerns about the Footscray park Railway Reserve where, the EPA predicted, the public would be exposed to dangerous levels of nitrogen dioxide from increased diesel train traffic. The EPA noted that planned risk assessments had not been done by the Department of Transport.
Mr Madden viewed the EPA reports in September 2010, but ruled that an Environment Effects Statement (EES) will not be required for Section-1 of the RRL project,
“Section 1 of the Regional Rail Link project– from Moonee Ponds Creek, West Melbourne to Deer Park - is in an urban area along side existing rail infrastructure,” Mr Madden said.
“I have evaluated the need for an EES for the project against the Ministerial Guidelines for Assessment of Environmental Effects under the Environmental Effects Act 1978 and concluded that, subject to the stated conditions, the proposed works are unlikely to have significant environmental effects.”
In response to the emergence of the EPA reports, a government spokesperson accused the former Labor government of a
"scandalous cover-up" and vowed that
"Potential health and environment issues that have been uncovered will also now be fully investigated".
Lines
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Southern CrossSouthern Cross is a major railway station and transport hub in Melbourne Docklands, Victoria, Australia. It is located on Spencer Street between Collins and La Trobe Streets at the western edge of the central business district...
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{{BS3|uSTR|BHF||2.9km|
North MelbourneNorth Melbourne is a railway station located on the northern edge of the central business district of Melbourne, Australia. The station is the point through which pass the west and north-west bound Craigieburn, Flemington Racecourse, Sydenham, Upfield, Werribee and Williamstown suburban railway...
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{{BS3|uSTR|BHF||6.1km|
Footscray(FSY)||Zone 1|}}
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{{BS3|uSTR|BHF||13.5km|
Sunshine(SUN)||Zone 1 & 2|}}
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{{BS3|HLUECKE|KRWrf|||Sydenham/Bendigo/Swan Hill/Echuca Lines|||}}
{{BS3||HST||15.02km|
Ardeer(APR)||Zone 2|}}
{{BS3||HST||20.82km|
Deer Park(DEK)||Zone 2|}}
{{BS3|HLUECKE|ABZrd|||Ballarat/Ararat/Melton Lines|||}}
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TarneitTarneit is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 25 km south-west from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Wyndham....
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Wyndham ValeWyndham Vale is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 36 km south-west from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Wyndham. At the 2006 Census, Wyndham Vale had a population of 10,355.- Recreation and sport :...
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{{BS3|HLUECKE|ABZqlr|HLUECKE||< Geelong railway line, Werribee railway line >|||}}
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