MEMBER for Northern Victoria, Wendy Lovell, has said the State Government will condemn key Victorian regional cities to slow trains for decades to come if it fails to build designated tunnels as part of Melbourne’s Airport Rail Link project.
The construction of an airport rail tunnel between the city and Sunshine on dedicated tracks would have enabled fast transit into Melbourne from regional centres like Shepparton by using the spare capacity on the new infrastructure.
In a constituency question to Transport Infrastructure Minister, Jacinta Allan, in State Parliament recently, Ms Lovell pointed out the government’s preferred option to progress the Airport Rail Link as an above-ground link using existing tracks will dash any hopes of regional commuters enjoying fast regional rail into Southern Cross station.
In her contribution, Ms Lovell called on Ms Allan to reconsider the government’s preferred model and instead fund the construction of a dedicated airport rail tunnel that can also be used by regional rail services.
“Fast Regional Rail is an essential component in any decentralisation policy by providing the infrastructure to allow regional Victorians fast and reliable connectivity with metropolitan Melbourne,” Ms Lovell said.
