Construction begins on Regional Rail Link
Works have begun on Melbourne’s first new major rail line in over 80 years, the Regional Rail Link.
Federal Member for Gellibrand Nicola Roxon and Victorian Public Transport Minister Terry Mulder were present in Footscray to open the 4.5 kilometre City to Maribyrnong River section of the line.
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“The Gillard Government is investing in our future by partnering with the Victorian Government to build Australia’s largest public transport infrastructure project to service our regional centres and Melbourne’s growing population in the north and west,” Ms Roxon said.
“This project is a key pillar of Labor’s Nation Building Program and will significantly improve the frequency and reliability of services for passengers on the Geelong, Bendigo and Ballarat lines,” she said.
The announcement is expected to deliver about 2,900 direct jobs and 2,700 indirect jobs, and improve the reliability of both regional and metropolitan trains.
“The city to Maribyrnong River section will untangle the rail network as trains approach the city, allowing thousands more passengers to travel every day on more reliable trains,” Mr Mulder said.
The project will be delivered in six major packages of work and is expected to be complete in 2016. It is jointly funded by the Federal and Victorian Governments with the Federal Labor Government contributing $3.225 billion.
