\nThis is surely to be yet another disaster in the making. What does this governmewnt and Transport Victoria have against electrification the basis of all network expansion all over the world. With electrification the speeds can increase between the locations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There is absolutely no point in building to Melton when the entire line should be electrified removing polluting diesel trains off the Ballarat Line. Electrification to Geelong should have been completed years ago with the RRL. It was not done and around and around and around we go.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Electrifying the Ballarat and Geelong lines would provide the opportunity to decarbonise the network on both routes adding new rollingstock such as the Mariyung Trains<\/a> being used in NSW<\/a> and create many more jobs in Ballarat in the maintenance facilities.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
The Andrews government pledged in the 2018 election campaign that it would electrify lines to Melton and Wyndham Vale, which both rely on regional V\/Line trains while servicing the fastest-growing urban corridor in Australia<\/a>, which is forecast to be home to 1.8 million people by 2050.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Victorian transport tsar Jeroen Weimar told the West of Melbourne Summit<\/a> on Thursday that the Melton line would be electrified after the $4.1 billion Sunshine station redevelopment was done. The Sunshine station overhaul is due for completion by 2030.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nI would not trust this guy to deliver a pizza. There is nothing stopping the delivery of the electrification programme now for Geelong and Ballarat with commissioning to happen around 2030. It needs to begin now as does the ordering of new EMU rolling stock for the network.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Age<\/em> reporters moderated the West of Melbourne Economic Development Alliance (WoMEDA) summit to discuss a vision for the western suburbs\u2019 success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Capacity improvements on the Wyndham Vale line would follow some time after Melton line electrification, and might not necessarily involve electrification of the line, Weimar said. They could instead be delivered through the use of the emerging technology of battery-powered trains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nSo we are at least 15 years away from a solution or 1\/2 a generation. This is so farcical it beggars belief. Battery powered trains have not worked overseas, why do we expect them to work here?
Solve the problem properly and stop looking for inferior solutions which Transport Victoria seem to do on every project.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n\u201cThere is an order of priority,\u201d Department of Transport and Planning secretary Weimar told the summit. \u201cGet Sunshine done, get Melton [electrification] done, then continue to expand capacity down to Wyndham Vale.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nWhat a load of rot this man is not fit for the job. He has been hired to manage the spin. Can you image how bad the transport will be in 10 years when these important projects are still not delivered or even in 7 years?<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
In its economic growth strategy, WoMEDA identified that better transport was needed<\/a> for the area\u2019s future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The report said it was essential that the Melton and Wyndham Vale train lines were electrified, so those rapidly growing areas could be served by Metro, rather than V\/Line trains. But the group said the Melton project had an uncertain delivery date and Wyndham Vale had been put on hold indefinitely.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nI would believe they have been delayed as this is how this muppet works. You need to have high capacity intercity trains on the lines such as the NSW Mariyung Trains<\/a> with electrification completed between the two regional centres. The Mariyung Trains come in 6 car sets, with 491 seats and have a top speed of almost 180 km\/h, perfect for the Geelong and Ballarat Lines. These trains will remove diesels and help the clean up the air quality<\/a> at Southern Cross Railway Station<\/a>. They will be faster on the routes, provide 10% more capacity in a 6 car set and will be cheaper to purchase and maintain as they are not diesel trains.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
The ongoing project to extend platforms on the Melton line to accommodate nine-car trains, rather than the current six, would provide \u201ca little bit of breathing room\u201d before the line needed further capacity expansion through electrification, Infrastructure Victoria chief executive Jonathan Spear said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nSpear is a fool. The issue is the Vlocity trains are a poor choice for the routes being Geelong and Ballarat. 6 car sets are all that are required. Almost 500 seats in a 6 car set on EMU based Mariyung trains from Korea. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This Spear guy has been a millstone in getting these projects moving. If only we had not wasted the $40B on the project without a business case called the north east link<\/strong> we would have these projects already under way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With there Mariyung Trains we can have many more on the route providing more services for turn up and go for the Ballarat Line. <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n
\nDepartment of Transport and Planning secretary Jeroen Weimar says rail capacity boosts for Melton and Wyndham must follow the Sunshine station redevelopment. CREDIT: ELKE MEITZEL<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n \u201cElectrification to Melton is something that our model shows there is super-high demand for, and it\u2019s a logical thing to do once that work around Sunshine station is completed,\u201d Spear said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nHave they modelled to Ballarat to the obvious choice for everyone except them? Why have not not included Bacchus Marsh in this modelling at a minimum?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Why on earth would you rely on diesel trains for the remaining half off the line? Just do the entire line and it is finished. There approach makes no sense and is foolish and will cost more not to electrify to Ballarat.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Concerns about the delivery of key projects promised for the western suburbs come as the Allan government struggles to balance its finances under the weight of an already enormous infrastructure program, including the $26 billion North East Link<\/a> and $34.5 billion Suburban Rail Loop East<\/a>, both in the eastern suburbs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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