Regional Fast Rail project
Encyclopedia
The Regional Fast Rail project (or RFR project) was a rail transport
project of the State Government of Victoria
, Australia
undertaken between 2000 and 2006 aimed at improving the passenger services on the Victorian regional railway network
(operated by V/Line
), specifically to reduce travel times, enhance service frequency and safety.
Despite initial setbacks and criticism, by 2009 the project had a legacy of unexpected success. Record passenger numbers and a substantial contribution to the growth of regional Victorian economies have both been attributed to the project with several substantial spin-off projects and subsequent calls for further upgrades and investment.
Part of the Linking Victoria
program, the Regional Fast Rail project was launched by the governing Victorian Australian Labor Party
on 5 September 2000 and described by Peter Batchelor
as "the biggest project we've probably seen in Victorian rail in decades",
The original brief entailed delivery of 38 new VLocity trains; upgrade of 500 km of track; installation of 400 new and upgraded railway signals, along with the Train Protection & Warning System; installation of more than 460,000 concrete sleepers; upgrade of 170 level crossings; introduction of new rail safety systems; the development of new train timetables with improved services and new fibre optic signalling that provides broadband opportunities in regional areas.
As well as reduced journey times, the new timetables also increased the frequency of services, with off-peak trains arriving up to once per hour. Additional trains, with varying consist lengths to suit demand, are also scheduled to operate during the peak, with one service each peak designated as a "flagship" service with the shortest journey time.
's new VLocity in service on 22 December 2005.
Track and signalling was upgraded to allow for VLocity trains running at 160 km/h between Deer Park West Junction and Ballarat. In addition, some deviations were built to ease curves or, in one case, to provide a considerably shorter route (the original route was retained, however, to provide a passing loop).
Fast Rail services were officially launched on the Geelong line on 3 February 2006.
The double-track
Geelong line had the track and signalling upgraded to allow for VLocity trains running at 160 km/h between Werribee and Geelong. These works were carried out in various stages between 2004 and 2006. The Geelong line already comprised two bidirectional tracks between Newport
and North Geelong. 160 km/h operation is only provided for on the East track for down trains and the West track for up trains.
and Bendigo. Also, bidirectional signalling was provided between Sunbury and Kyneton. Between Kyneton and Bendigo the double-track line was singled to allow for better clearances past heritage structures, although retaining some sections of double track in the form of long crossing loops. The crossing loops were provided with bidirectional signalling, but only one of the two tracks was upgraded for 160 km/h running.
) of the time dubbed it the Farce Rail Project.
However, even these times were only for a few trains each day that would run express between Melbourne and the respective regional cities. Furthermore, the number of trains that would run to these schedules was cut to one each way each day. Even though most journey times are now faster than before the project, the public impression is that time savings are minimal.
A spokesman for the Better Rail Action Group has claimed that the reason for eliminating the double track is to save costs, rather than for technical reasons.
A further criticism is the lack of provision for Wi-Fi
on the trains themselves for business travellers.
of extensions constructed to accommodate services to Ararat
; the new Wendouree Railway Station; services to Maryborough
.
Additionally strong calls were made in 2010 to extend it also to Shepparton
.
" which was aimed of separating all regional trains between Southern Cross and Geelong, Ballarat, and Bendigo, from suburban rail movements to increase reliability of the trains on the regional rail network.
Rail transport
Rail transport is a means of conveyance of passengers and goods by way of wheeled vehicles running on rail tracks. In contrast to road transport, where vehicles merely run on a prepared surface, rail vehicles are also directionally guided by the tracks they run on...
project of the State Government of Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
undertaken between 2000 and 2006 aimed at improving the passenger services on the Victorian regional railway network
Rail transport in Victoria
Rail transport in Victoria, Australia, is provided by a number of railway operators who operate over the government-owned railway lines. Victorian lines use broad gauge, with the exception of a number of standard gauge freight and interstate lines, a few experimental narrow gauge lines, and...
(operated by V/Line
V/Line
V/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...
), specifically to reduce travel times, enhance service frequency and safety.
Despite initial setbacks and criticism, by 2009 the project had a legacy of unexpected success. Record passenger numbers and a substantial contribution to the growth of regional Victorian economies have both been attributed to the project with several substantial spin-off projects and subsequent calls for further upgrades and investment.
Project overview
Linking Victoria
The Linking Victoria was a State Government program launched in 1999 to upgrade transport infrastructure in Victoria, Australia. Costing $3.5 billion, it included the road, rail and port networks...
program, the Regional Fast Rail project was launched by the governing Victorian Australian Labor Party
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
on 5 September 2000 and described by Peter Batchelor
Peter Batchelor
Peter Batchelor was an Australian politician before retiring at the Victorian State Election on 27 November 2010. He was an Australian Labor Party member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly since 1990, representing the electorate of Thomastown. He served most recently as Minister for Energy and...
as "the biggest project we've probably seen in Victorian rail in decades",
The original brief entailed delivery of 38 new VLocity trains; upgrade of 500 km of track; installation of 400 new and upgraded railway signals, along with the Train Protection & Warning System; installation of more than 460,000 concrete sleepers; upgrade of 170 level crossings; introduction of new rail safety systems; the development of new train timetables with improved services and new fibre optic signalling that provides broadband opportunities in regional areas.
Launch and services
The VLocity trains began running to the slower schedules from December 2005, and 160 km/h services began on the Geelong, Ballarat, and Bendigo lines on 3 September 2006.As well as reduced journey times, the new timetables also increased the frequency of services, with off-peak trains arriving up to once per hour. Additional trains, with varying consist lengths to suit demand, are also scheduled to operate during the peak, with one service each peak designated as a "flagship" service with the shortest journey time.
Ballarat line
Ballarat was the first line to see V/LineV/Line
V/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...
's new VLocity in service on 22 December 2005.
Track and signalling was upgraded to allow for VLocity trains running at 160 km/h between Deer Park West Junction and Ballarat. In addition, some deviations were built to ease curves or, in one case, to provide a considerably shorter route (the original route was retained, however, to provide a passing loop).
Geelong line
The double-track
Double track
A double track railway usually involves running one track in each direction, compared to a single track railway where trains in both directions share the same track.- Overview :...
Geelong line had the track and signalling upgraded to allow for VLocity trains running at 160 km/h between Werribee and Geelong. These works were carried out in various stages between 2004 and 2006. The Geelong line already comprised two bidirectional tracks between Newport
Newport railway station, Melbourne
Newport is a railway station in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, located in the suburb of Newport, at the junction of the Werribee and Williamstown railway lines...
and North Geelong. 160 km/h operation is only provided for on the East track for down trains and the West track for up trains.
Bendigo line
Track and signalling was upgraded on the Bendigo line to allow for VLocity trains running at 160 km/h between SunburySunbury railway station, Melbourne
Sunbury is a railway station in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, located in the township of Sunbury, on the Melbourne - Bendigo railway. The station is staffed during daylight hours for most train services until approximately 8pm, and is in Metcard and myki Zone 2...
and Bendigo. Also, bidirectional signalling was provided between Sunbury and Kyneton. Between Kyneton and Bendigo the double-track line was singled to allow for better clearances past heritage structures, although retaining some sections of double track in the form of long crossing loops. The crossing loops were provided with bidirectional signalling, but only one of the two tracks was upgraded for 160 km/h running.
Traralgon line
Track and signalling on the Traralgon line was upgraded to allow for VLocity trains running at 160 km/h between Pakenham and Traralgon. Bidirectional signalling was also provided on the double-track sections between Pakenham and Bunyip, and between Longwarry and Moe. 160 km/h services began on 15 October 2006, although a few selected services ran to slightly faster schedules for a week or so beforehand. However, only the former up track (now called the South track) was upgraded for 160 km/h running; VLocity trains are limited to 130 km/h on the former down track (now North track).Criticisms
Criticisms of the project have centred on the cost, the lack of time savings, and the removal of one track from part of the Bendigo line. The State Opposition (Liberal Party of AustraliaLiberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
) of the time dubbed it the Farce Rail Project.
Costs
The Government originally hoped that most of the cost of the project would be borne by the private sector with a taxpayer investment of A$80 million. However, when this support failed to materialise, the Government decided to pay for the entire A$550 million project. In addition the project ran overtime and over budget with the eventual cost estimated at A$750 million.Time savings
The original promise was for trains to run to Geelong in 45 minutes, Ballarat in 60 minutes, Bendigo in 80 minutes, and Traralgon in 90 minutes. However, this was soon changed to add four minutes to each journey. In the 2007 V/Line timetables, it takes the Traralgon service 111 minutes to the city.However, even these times were only for a few trains each day that would run express between Melbourne and the respective regional cities. Furthermore, the number of trains that would run to these schedules was cut to one each way each day. Even though most journey times are now faster than before the project, the public impression is that time savings are minimal.
Bendigo line singling
The removal of one track from much of the Bendigo line and resultant delays (compounded by ongoing delays in the metropolitan section of the Line between Southern Cross (Spencer Street) and Sydenham (Watergardens) affecting trains in both directions, reduced capacity and perceived reduced reliabiity, and the installation of broad gauge only sleepers (5 ft 3in) instead of gauge-convertible to standard gauge have also been the source of much criticism, although the original plans for crossing loops were altered to allow for longer crossing loops.A spokesman for the Better Rail Action Group has claimed that the reason for eliminating the double track is to save costs, rather than for technical reasons.
Broadband access
The promised spin-off, broadband access to communities such as Ballan and VLine commuters, did not eventuate due to the government's unwillingness to fund breakout points.A further criticism is the lack of provision for Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi or Wifi, is a mechanism for wirelessly connecting electronic devices. A device enabled with Wi-Fi, such as a personal computer, video game console, smartphone, or digital audio player, can connect to the Internet via a wireless network access point. An access point has a range of about 20...
on the trains themselves for business travellers.
Patronage
Despite some initial setbacks, by 2009 the project was being hailed as an unexpected success, spurring record passenger numbers and substantially contributing to the growth of regional Victorian economies.Additional trains
Additional trains and carriages were purchased to cope with increasing demand in 2008 and 2009.Extensions and Upgrades
The success of the initial project paved the way for the inclusion in the Victorian Transport PlanVictorian Transport Plan
The 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 extensions constructed to accommodate services to Ararat
Ararat, Victoria
Ararat is a city in south-west Victoria, Australia, about west of Melbourne, on the Western Highway on the eastern slopes of the Ararat Hills and Cemetery Creek valley between Victoria's Western District and the Wimmera...
; the new Wendouree Railway Station; services to Maryborough
Maryborough, Victoria
-Education:Maryborough has three schools:*Highview Christian Community College*Maryborough Education Centre Years Prep–12*St Augustine's Primary School Grades Prep–6-Music:...
.
Additionally strong calls were made in 2010 to extend it also to Shepparton
Shepparton, Victoria
Shepparton is a city located on the floodplain of the Goulburn River in the north east of Victoria, Australia approximately north-east of Melbourne. It is the fifth largest city in Victoria, Australia. The estimated population of Shepparton's statistical area is 48,926.It began as a sheep station...
.
Regional Rail Link
Another legacy of the Regional Fast Rail Project is the A$4 billion project called the "Regional Rail LinkRegional Rail Link
The Regional Rail Link is a 47.5 km railway track currently under construction through the western suburbs of Melbourne from Southern Cross Station, running through Sunshine, Tarneit and meeting the Geelong Line at West Werribee...
" which was aimed of separating all regional trains between Southern Cross and Geelong, Ballarat, and Bendigo, from suburban rail movements to increase reliability of the trains on the regional rail network.
See also
- High-speed rail in AustraliaHigh-speed rail in AustraliaProposals for High-speed rail infrastructure in Australia have been under active investigation since the early 1980s. There is currently no such technology in active service in Australia; existing rail services between the east coast cities are slow, infrequent, and not realistically competitive...
- Rail transport in VictoriaRail transport in VictoriaRail transport in Victoria, Australia, is provided by a number of railway operators who operate over the government-owned railway lines. Victorian lines use broad gauge, with the exception of a number of standard gauge freight and interstate lines, a few experimental narrow gauge lines, and...
- Operation PhoenixOperation Phoenix (railway)Operation Phoenix was a post World War II rehabilitation program carried out by the Victorian Railways in Australia. The program commenced in 1950 and was originally planned to take 10 years and cost £80 million pounds...
- New DealNew Deal (railway)The New Deal' for Country Passengers was a timetable introduced on 4 October 1981 in Victoria, Australia that revolutionised the provision of country passenger railway services. 35 little-used passenger stations were closed, rolling stock utilisation improved, and new rolling stock introduced...