“InterCity”and“AirTrain”The Rail Futures blueprint for faster and

better regional trains in Victoria and re-balancing population growth

PresentationtoRegionalCitiesVictoria- 26October2017JohnHearschandPeterTesdorpf- RailFuturesInstitute

WhatisRailFutures?RailFuturesInstituteisanindependentnon-partisangroup.Itwasformedtoadvocatecost-effectiverailandintermodalsolutionsforpublictransportandfreightproblemsbasedonsoundcommercial,economicandsocialreasoning.

RailFuturesmembersincludeexperiencedrailprofessionals,engineers,urbanplannersandeconomists.

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WhatisInterCity?InterCity isRailFutures’proposalfordevelopingacomprehensivefasterandmoreintegratedregionalrailnetwork,respondingtothreemainaims-• morebalancedpopulationgrowth,• betterconnectivity andreducedjourneytimesacrossthe

state,and• meetingwidespreaddemandsforimprovedrailservices

throughoutregionalVictoria.InterCity andAirTrain togetherprovidea30-yearblueprintforaconnectedrailtransportnetworkprovidingspeedytravelbetweenMelbourneandregionalVictoriathataddressestheState’stransportneedsto2050andbeyond.

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Why InterCity?• Toleadandsupportregionalgrowthanddevelopment• Tosignificantlyimproveconnectednessandsupportneweconomicactivity

• ToexpandtheareaofregionalVictoriawithgoodaccesstojobsandservices

• TosignificantlyimprovecommutingjourneystoMelbourneand,mostimportantly,journeysintoregionalcentres

• TocreateaEuropean-stylerailnetworkwithgreaterserviceintensityandintegrationbetweentransportmodes

• Tohaverailtravelcompetitivewithtraveltimesbycar• Toensurerailjourneysarecomfortableandallowthetimetobeusedproductively.

RCV andInterCity objectivesarecloselyalignedInterCity willbeakeyenablerofa“StateofCities”andregionalgrowth.

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Ø Accesstojobs,mobilityofskilledpeopleØ Businessinvestment- multipliereffectsØ Leadsoveralleconomicdevelopment

Ø RegionalpopulationattractorØ AffordablehousingØ Lifestyleandenvironmentalbenefits

Ø FastrailshrinksdistanceØ Closereconomicintegrationofregional

economieswithMelbourneØ Supportscommutingintoregionalcentres

Ø MedicalandeducationalinstitutionsØ TourismopportunitiesØ Innovationcentres

ThreeKeyPropositions1. Populationgrowthneedstoberebalanced

fromMelbournetoregionalVictoria.

2. AStateofCities requireswell-defineddevelopment,populationandlandusepolicyintegratedwithtransportstrategy.

3. Investmentinfaster,morefrequentandmorereliablerailservicesisessential toenableandleadregionalgrowth.

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BalancedPopulationGrowth• Victoria’spopulationisexpectedtodoubleto10

millionby2050,with8millionofthosepeopleinMelbourne

• OfficialfiguresshowtheimbalancebetweenMelbourneandtheregionswillworsenby2050withunchangedpolicies

• Faster InterCity trainswillshrinkdistanceandextendtheareawithaccesstoMelbourneandmajorregionalcentresforemploymentandotherserviceslikehealthandeducation

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RegionalDemandsforTrainServiceReinstatementand/orUpgrading

• RFR,RRLandVLocityinvestmentsdemonstratedthestrongimpactofmodern,faster(160km/hmax)trainservices

• Theseinvestmentsproducedover200%patronageincreasesandsignificantjourneytimereductions

• ButcommunitiesbeyondRFRgenerallyreceiveservicestandardsestablishedinthe1980s(severalareworse)

• AndthosecommunitiesthatareservedbyRRL,particularlyontheGeelongandBallaratcorridors,nowfacetheproblemsofsuccess,suchasovercrowding– drivenmainlybymassivegrowthincommutingfromMelbourne’swestonlinesthatdonothavetheirownmetroservice.

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TheRFR,RRLandV/Locityinvestments–nowavictimoftheirownsuccess!

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InterCityproposals– anupdateOurInterCity paperwaslaunchedinSeptember2016byformerDeputyPrimeMinister,TimFischer.Sincethentherehavebeenimportantpositivedevelopments:• Emergenceoflocalgovernmentrailadvocacygroups• FederalGovernmentinterestinregionalraildevelopment• SignificantFederalfundingforMelbourne-BrisbaneInlandRailway

withimplicationsforsomeMelbournerailcorridorsandterminals• StartofMurrayBasinRailProjectworks• SignificantFederalandStateGovernment2016/17budgetfunding

for“RegionalRailRevival”ofselectedpassengerservices• FederalandStateGovernmentfundingofAirportRailbusinesscase• Majorlocalgovernmentsponsoredstudiesconcludedforrestoring

servicestoHorshamandHamiltonandforupgradedtrainservicestoSheppartonandGippsland

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Butmuchremainstobedone• NooverarchingTransportPlanfortheregionalrailandcoach

networkasrequiredbytheTransportIntegrationAct2010• Noplantocompletesegregationoftheregionalrailnetworkfrom

themetropolitanrailnetwork• SeriousovercrowdingproblemsontheGeelonglineandnow

emergingontheBallaratlinenotbeingaddressed• Gippslandservicesverypoorandnoplantoaddressneedfor

additionaltrackstoDandenong• Inadequateservicefrequency,slowtriptimesandoldrollingstock

onSeymour,AlburyandSheppartoncorridorsnotaddressed• Otherlongdistanceservices(SwanHill,Bairnsdale)notimproved

formanyyears– samerollingstockusedforpast35years• Nocommitmentyetforrestorationofrailpassengerservicesto

HorshamandHamiltonwhile Milduraremainsofftheradar

InterCity –mainserviceobjectives• FasterrailserviceslinkingSouthernCrossandmajorregionalcentres,

withmore160km/handsome200km/hoperation.• MorefrequenttrainsGeelong,Ballarat,Bendigo,SeymourandTraralgon

routes(4-6trainsperhourweekdays).• Muchimprovedservicereliabilitybysegregationofallregionaltrains

fromsuburbantrains.• A15minuteCBDtoAirportAirTrain every10minutes.• EasytonavigateMelbourneAirporthubservedbyregionalrailand

designedforfutureHighSpeedRail.• Afullyconnectednetwork:air>metrorail>regionalrail>regionalcoach• NewlongdistancetrainsforWarrnambool,SwanHill,Albury,Bairnsdale

linesandaccelerationtoreducejourneytimes.• ReinstatementofHorshamandHamiltontrainservices,Cross-Country

railroutes(Geelong-Ballarat-Bendigo),bettercoachserviceslinkingregionaltownsandcitiesandre-workthecasefortrainstoMildura.

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SegregationofregionalfrommetropolitanservicesisessentialforInterCityimplementation

• Geelongline- anewfastlinefromtheCBDviaWyndhamVale• Interfaceswithextensionofelectrifiedmetropolitanservicesto

TarneitandWyndhamValeviaSunshineandWerribee• Bendigo,Seymour/SheppartonlinesandAlburylines- newfast

linesviaMelbourneAirporttoClarkefieldandWallan• Interfaceswithextensionofelectrifiedmetropolitanservicesfrom

SunburytoClarkefieldandCraigieburntokeyinterchangeatWallan• BallaratandGippslandlines– enablesfastertripsby:

• ExtensionofelectrifiedservicestoMeltonandBacchusMarshwithtrackquadruplicationbetweenSunshineandMelton

• TrackquadruplicationbetweenCaulfieldandDandenongandanovertakingloopbetweenDandenongandPakenham

• UltimateextensionofMelbourneMetrotunnelstoCaulfield

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MajorchallengesbycorridorChallenges PrincipalInfrastructureSolutions Bywhen

GeelongandBallaratlines– massivegrowth,inadequateinfrastructure,suburbanandregionalservices incompatible

• DuplicateSouthGeelongtoWaurnPonds• ElectrifyRRL linestoWyndhamValeand

Melton/BacchusMarshforhighcapacitytrains• Build“missinglink”WerribeetoWyndham Vale• Constructseparatetracksforregionalservices

20202022

20242026

Bendigoline – rapidgrowth, Sunburysuburbanandregionalservices incompatible

• Restore duplicationKynetontoBendigo• ExtendelectrificationSunburytoClarkefield• DivertregionaltrainsviaMelbourneAirport

with metrointerchangeatClarkefield

20262030

2030NorthEasternlines –massivemetrogrowth,inadequateinfrastructure,suburbanandregionalservices incompatible

• DivertBGregionaltrainsviaUpfieldcorridor• Extend electrificationCraigieburntoWallan• UpgradetracksandstandardisebeyondWallan• DivertregionaltrainsviaMelbourneAirport

with metrointerchangeatWallan

2024203020302030

Gippslandline – rapidgrowth,inadequateinfrastructure,Dandenongsuburbanandregionalservices incompatible

• CompleteduplicationMoetoTraralgon• ExtendMMtunnelsSouthYarratoCaulfield• Progressivelyconstructseparatetracksfor

regionalpassenger,freightandlongerdistancesuburbanservicesCaulfield toDandenong

202420302032

AchievabletriptimesCorridor Service

Current rail distance

(km)

Typical journey times (Minutes)

2017 Phase I (by 2026)

Phase II (by 2040)

South-West

Melbourne-Geelong 81 60 50 40**

Melbourne-Colac 161 130 110 90**

Melbourne-Warrnambool 275 220 180 160**

West

Melbourne-Ballarat 115 75 65 60

Melbourne-Ararat 207 135 125 115

Melbourne-Horsham 327 n/a 200 185

North-West

Melbourne-Bendigo 162 110 95 80*

Melbourne-Echuca 250 200 170 150*

Melbourne-Swan Hill 345 270 235 200*

North-East

Melbourne-Seymour 99 85 70 60*

Melbourne-Shepparton 182 155 130 110*

Melbourne-Albury 317 230 185 165*

EastMelbourne-Warragul 100 100 85 70Melbourne-Traralgon 158 145 120 105

Melbourne-Bairnsdale 276 225 195 180** - via new fast line to Geelong post-2035 * - via Melbourne Airport post-2030

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RailFuturesAirTrain proposal– anintegralpartofInterCity

• AnewlinefromSouthernCrosstoamajornewMelbourneAirporthubservedbyregionalrailanddesignedforfutureHighSpeedRail

• MelbourneAirporttobecomeakeymulti-modaltransporthubaswellasanairtransporthub

• ACBDtoAirportAirTrain every10minutes• ConnectionsatSunshinewithMelbourneMetrolinesSunburyto

DandenongviaFootscray,Parkville,newCBDstationsandDomain,andregionallinestoGeelong,Warrnambool,BallaratandHorsham

• DirectregionalrailservicesattheAirporttoCastlemaine,Bendigo,Seymour,Shepparton,Benalla,WangarattaandAlbury

• ConnectionsatSouthernCrosstoallothersuburbanlinesandtoWarragul,Traralgon,SaleandBairnsdale

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WhyheavyrailforAirTrain ?

• Providesaquick,comfortabletripindedicatedrollingstock• AirTrain fromSouthernCrosstotheAirportin15minuteswithonlyaSunshinestop– easyataveragespeed106km/h

• Useswellproven,lowrisk,off-the-shelftechnology• MuchmorethansimplyanAirportrailway– amulti-functioncorridorforreconfiguringtheregionalnetworkwithfullsegregationfromthemetropolitanrailnetwork

• ConstructionstagedtoextendbeyondMelbourneAirporttolinkwiththeBendigolineatClarkefieldandtheOMRreservedcorridortojointheSeymourlineatWallan

• Onlyamodernheavyrailcorridorhasthecapacityandspeedneededforthisapplication.

StatewideAirport/RailConnectivity–MetropolitanandRegionalVictoria

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MelbourneAirportRailwaypotential timelines

• Strategicreviewofnetworkintegration,demand,railcorridorandoperationaloptions– 3-6months(complete2018)

• Technicalstudies– 12months(complete2018-19)• ImplementationPlan– 6months(complete2019)• BusinessCase– 12months(complete2020)• Planning,StatutoryApprovalsandTenderPhase– 36-48months

(complete2023-24)• ConstructionandImplementationPhase- 48-60months

(complete2027-28)AnRCVpositionregardingAirportRailanditsregionalconnectionsneedstobeputtogovernmentassoonaspossible– beforedecisionsarelockedin

InterCity – summaryofprioritiesforVictoria• Regionalrailongoinginvestmentprogram- faster,morefrequent

andreliableservicestoincentiviseopportunitiesforregionalliving,accesstojobsandmuchimprovedhousingaffordability.

• AirTrain - CBDtoMelbourneAirporttobethenextmajorrailprojectafterMelbourneMetro– 8to10yearleadtimerequirescommitmentnowandplanningunderway

• BendigolineandSeymour/Shepparton/AlburylinestobedivertedviaMelbourneAirport

• Metropolitanandregionallinestobeprogressivelysegregated• Regionallinestobeprogressivelyconvertedtostandardgauge• Dandenongraillinetobecomeafourtrackcorridor• Metropolitangrowthareacorridorextensions(Werribeeto

WyndhamValeandCranbournetoClyde)• Metropolitangrowthareaelectrificationextensions(Melton,

BacchusMarsh,WyndhamVale,Clarkefield,Wallan)

InterCity - anexpresstracktoVictoria’sfuture

QuestionsandDiscussion

ReadthefullInterCity report

www.railfutures.org.au

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