InterCity The Rail Futures blueprint for faster and better regional trains in Victoria Presentation to Victorian Transport Infrastructure Conference Melbourne, 22 March 2017 John Hearsch and Dr Bill Russell, Rail Futures Institute
What is Rail Futures? Rail Futures Institute is an independent non- partisan group. It was formed to advocate cost-effective rail and intermodal solutions for public transport and freight problems based on sound commercial, economic and social reasoning. Rail Futures members include experienced rail professionals, urban planners, engineers and economists. 2
What is InterCity? InterCity is Rail Futures’ proposal for developing a comprehensive faster and more integrated regional rail network, responding to 3 main aims - • more balanced population growth, • better connectivity and reduced journey times across the state, and • meeting widespread demands for improved rail services throughout regional Victoria in terms of: • better service frequency on most lines • much improved reliability • reduced journey time • new long distance trains 3
Balanced Population Growth Victoria’s population is expected to double to 10 • million by 2050, with 8 million of those people in Melbourne Official figures show the imbalance between • Melbourne and the regions will worsen by 2050 with unchanged policies Faster InterCity trains would shrink distance and • extend the area with access to Melbourne and major regional centres for employment and other services like health and education 4
Regional Demands for Train Service Reinstatement and/or Upgrading • RFR, RRL and VLocity investments demonstrated the strong impact of modern, faster (160 km/h max) train services • These investments produced up to 300% patronage increases and significant journey time reductions • But communities beyond RFR generally receive service standards established in the 1980s (several are worse) • And those communities that are served by RRL generally face the problems of success, such as overcrowding • There are now 8 groups of Councils across the state set up to advocate for better passenger rail. This is unprecedented in recent memory. 5
The RFR, RRL and V/Locity investments – now a victim of their own success! 6
Why InterCity? • To lead and support regional growth and development • To significantly improve connectedness and support new economic activity • To expand the area of regional Victoria with good access to jobs and services • To significantly improve commuting journeys to Melbourne and, most importantly, journeys into regional centres • To create a European-style rail network with greater service intensity and integration between transport modes • To have rail travel competitive with travel times by car • To ensure rail journeys are comfortable and allow the time to be used productively.
Using rail to shrink distance is not a new idea, as this 1936 VR poster shows 8
InterCity – main features • Faster, regular rail services linking major regional centres • A new standard gauge line to a major new Melbourne Airport hub served by regional rail and designed for future High Speed Rail • A 15 minute CBD to Airport AirTrain every 10 minutes • New fast lines on the Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo and Seymour routes, progressively converted to standard gauge with full operational segregation from the metropolitan rail network • Fast running through the metropolitan area for Gippsland services by Dandenong line track quadruplication and long passing loops • Cross-Country standard gauge rail routes linking regional cities • Much improved service reliability, through more robust infrastructure, new rolling stock, institutional changes and greater proficiency in operational and engineering management. 9
InterCity - a phased program of investments • Phase 1 to 2026 – delivers significant benefits in capacity, frequency, journey time and reliability. Completes planning for major Phase 2 projects. Requires institutional changes and relatively straightforward infrastructure and service improvements. • Phase 2 - 2027 to 2040 – provides a step-change in capacity and journey times with faster trains and new lines fully segregated from the metropolitan network, including a major Melbourne Airport hub.
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Why heavy rail for AirTrain ? • Provides a quick, comfortable trip in dedicated rolling stock • AirTrain from Southern Cross to the Airport in 15 minutes with only a Sunshine stop – easy at average speed 106 km/h • Uses well proven, low risk, off-the-shelf technology • Much more than simply an Airport railway – a multi-function corridor for reconfiguring the regional network with full segregation from the metropolitan rail network • Construction staged to extend beyond Melbourne Airport to link with the Bendigo line at Clarkefield and the OMR reserved corridor to join the Seymour line at Wallan • Only a modern heavy rail corridor has the capacity and speed needed for this application.
Why a Sunshine route for AirTrain ? • It’s all about network connectivity! • Uses existing rail corridor from West Footscray to Sunshine • Provides train maintenance and stabling facilities on existing rail land at Tottenham • Sunshine station will have new sub-surface platforms for the Airport line and regional trains • All Bendigo, Seymour, Shepparton and Albury/Wodonga trains will run via Sunshine and the Airport • Sunshine will provide quick and easy interchange to Geelong, Ballarat lines and the Melbourne Metro corridor • Southern Cross Station will provide connections to all other metropolitan lines and Melbourne’s tram network 14
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InterCity – the way ahead for Victoria Regional rail upgrading should be a priority driver to • incentivise opportunities for regional living, access to jobs and much improved housing affordability. • AirTrain from the CBD to Melbourne Airport should be the next major rail project after Melbourne Metro – 8 to 10 year lead time means commitment now and planning underway Bendigo line and Seymour/Shepparton/Albury lines to be • diverted via Melbourne Airport Metropolitan and regional lines to be progressively segregated • Regional lines to be progressively converted to standard gauge • Dandenong rail line to become a four track corridor • Metropolitan line extensions (Werribee-Wyndham Vale and • Cranbourne-Clyde) to be prioritised
InterCity - an express track to Victoria’s future Questions and Discussion Read the full InterCity report www.railfutures.org.au 17
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