By Bonny Burrows
The State Government has reiterated it will fund the duplication of the Bunyip to Longwarry rail corridor.
Community and rail lobbyists have advocated for the project’s funding for a number of years, with calls heightening in the wake of the 2017-’18 state budget.
In its recent state budget submission, Rail Futures Institute said the Gippsland line, “a poor relation” of other Victorian regional centres’ rail lines, required a $170 million boost across two years to upgrade infrastructure, and in return, improve local services.
It called for the funding of four major projects on the Gippsland line, including a $95 million track duplication between Bunyip and Longwarry – a project also supported by the Gippsland Rail Needs Study Report released last year.
The Rail Needs Study described the duplication as an “urgent investment”.
It stated the duplication, along with upgrades of the two stations, needed to be completed within five years to bring the Gippsland line “to a level where it can support the frequent and fast train service that is central to the effective future of public transport in Gippsland”.
However, the State Government told The Gazette it had already funded the duplication of the Bunyip River Bridge in last year’s budget, while the line duplication was included in its Regional Network Development Plan.
“We’re already planning for the duplication of the Bunyip River Bridge, and full duplication between Bunyip and Longwarry is part of our plan for better public transport in regional Victoria,” Public Transport Minister Jacinta Allan said.
Other local projects recently funded by the State Government include upgrades to the coach interchange at Kooweerup and $9 million in station upgrades on the Gippsland line.
The government has not confirmed whether the Bunyip and Longwarry stations will be upgraded as part of the investment.
