‘Ballarat needs a world class railway – our ambition is to
have the best regional railway in Australia’
– Councillor Samantha McIntosh, Mayor for City of Ballarat– Councillor David Clark, Mayor of Pyrenees Shire Council
– Councillor Gwenda Allgood, Acting Mayor Ararat Rural City Council
KEY ARGUMENTS FOR A HIGH-PERFORMANCE BALLARAT TRAIN SERVICE≥ TheBallaratlineisalreadyatnearcapacityfor
peakperiodtravel
≥ The2017-18upgradeprogramwillimprovetrainservicereliabilityandaddoff-peakfrequencybutwon’tprovidetrainswithmoreseatsorenablefasterjourneys
≥ StronggrowthwillcontinueforrailtraveltoMelbourne;improvedservicesfortravelintoBallaratwillalsobeanattractiveoptionforworkersandstudentsfromMelbourne’sboomingwestandplaceswestofBallarat
≥ Ballarat’spopulationwillgrowbyover70%to2050–highperformancerailisvitalinfrastructuretomakethisgrowthliveable
≥ Ballaratregion’sexcellenthousingstockandlowerhousingcostscanhelpaddressMelbourne’sneedformoreaffordablehousing
≥ BallaratisnowhometonationallysignificanttripattractorssuchasSovereignHill,TheArtGalleryofBallaratandEurekaStadiumandrailcanofferconvenientaccesstothesesites.
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Substantialeffortandfundinghasalsobeenputintothedevelopmentofbetterco-ordinatedroadcoachandurbanbusservices,withtheoverallresultthatVictoriaasawholehasthebestregionalpassengerservicesofanyAustralianstate.
TherailwaybetweenMelbourne,BallaratandAraratprovidesacriticaltransportlinkforthecommunitiesitserves,includingextendedcatchmentsthatareconnectedtotherailwaybybusandcoachservices.Theroleoftherailwayisexpectedtobecomeevenmorevitalincomingyearsaspopulationgrowthcontinuesandtheroadnetworkisincreasinglyunabletoaccommodatetraveldemand.
TherailwaybetweenMelbourneandBallaratisnowanintenselyusedcommuterline,havingseeninusagemorethantripleoverthepastdecadeasjourneytimeshavebeenreducedbysuccessiveinvestmentsintheRegionalFastRail,VLocityrailcarsandRegionalRailLink(RRL)projects.Afurther$518millionwascommittedtofurtherimprovementsinthe2016Statebudget.Despitethesewelcomeinvestments,muchofthelinemuchofthelinewillstillbesingletrack,resultingindelayswhiletrainswaittopasseachother,andotherinfrastructureincludingstations,signalling,trainstabling,carparking,securityandbusandcoachconnectionsrequirefurtherimprovement.
Thenext20yearswillrequiretransformativedevelopmentofrailservicesandinfrastructureinthecorridorfromSunshineviaBallarattoAraratandbeyondtoaccommodatedemandfuelledbyrapidpopulationgrowth,especiallybetweenSunshineandBacchusMarsh,inBallarat,andtoalesserextentinallcommunitiesservedbythecorridor.RapidurbangrowthwestofMelbourneisexpectedtoaddanother700,000peopletoareasservedbytheBallaratandGeelongrailcorridorsby2036(lessthan20yearsaway).
BallaratissettobecomeamajorregionalrailhubasservicestoAraratandMaryboroughincreaseand,wehope,alsoreturntoHorshamandHamilton.DirectraillinkswillalsobeneededfromBallarattoGeelongandBendigotosupportincreasingtravelneedsasthesemajorcentresexpandanddevelop.
ThesixCouncilsalongtheBallaratline—Brimbank,Melton,Moorabool,Ballarat,PyreneesandArarat-areunitedinseekingforourresidentsthebestregionalrailwayinAustralia.Wehavethebasics,wehavetheneed,weusethetrain.Weaskfortheplannedinvestmentthat’sneeded.Thisdocumentpresentsastrategytogetthere.
Over the past two decades, Victorian Governments have invested over $6 billion dollars in improving regional rail passenger services, providing faster journey times, and more frequent and reliable rail services to many parts of Victoria.
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THESE ARE REALISTIC ASPIRATIONS THAT CAN BE ACHIEVED IF:≥ A long term Ballarat rail corridor plan is developed
and implemented
≥ The required investments are implemented sequentially
≥ Involvement is achieved from all levels of government
≥ The community is engaged and excited as each upgrade is implemented
AnextremelyreliableandfastrailconnectionfromAraratandBallarattoMelbourneSouthernCross,supportingtheneedsofthecorridor’sboomingpopulationtotraveltoBallarat,Melbourne,MelbourneAirportandconnectedplacesbyquickerandmoreeffectivemeansthancartravel,supportinginwardsdomesticandinternationaltourismandallowingatraveltimebetweenBallaratandSouthernCrossof55minutesby2030and45minutesby2050.
THE ACTIONS NEEDED TO REALISE THIS VISION:≥ A corridor development plan
≥ Electrification to Melton
≥ Quadruplication between Sunshine and Melton
≥ Duplication of more single line sections
≥ Creation of new Warrenheip Parkway station
≥ Raising track speed wherever practicable
≥ Longer platforms for longer trains
≥ Better station facilities
≥ Better bus connections
OUR 2020 TARGET 95%Reliability
65Minute journey
30Minute peak frequency
OUR 2030 TARGET 98%Reliability
55Minute journey
20Minute peak frequency
OUR 2050 TARGET 100%Reliability
45Minute journey
15Minute peak frequency
OUR VISION FOR THE BALLARAT RAILWAY
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PROPOSED INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT PROGRAM
2018 – 2022≥ Railwayelectrification–SouthernCrosstoSunshine
(RRLlines)andtoMelton≥ ArdeerandDeerPark–stationreconstructiontoallow
fortrackquadruplicationwith250mplatformsforlongercurrentdieselandfuturemetroelectrictrains
≥ LevelcrossingremovalsatFitzgeraldRoad,DerrimutRoadandRobinsonsRoad
≥ CarolineSprings–Rockbank–Meltontrackduplication*≥ CarolineSprings,Rockbank,Toolern,MeltonandBacchus
Marsh—platformextensionsto250mformetroelectrictrains≥ ProvisionforfuturestationatHopkinsRoad≥ NewstationatToolern(withprovisionforFerrisRoad
levelcrossingremoval)*≥ BacchusMarsh–additionalplatform,removalofexisting
carriagesidingsandadditionalcarparking*≥ Maddingley–newcarriagesidingsatKerr’sRoad*≥ Ballan–new5kmpassinglane,additionalplatform
andcarparking≥ BungareeLoopviaWallaceandBungareetoclose
(removes5levelcrossings)≥ Bungareedirectline–new4kmpassinglane*≥ Ballaratstationimprovements(incl.DDAcompliance)
andadditionalcarparking≥ Wendouree–additionalplatformandcarparking*≥ BallarattoGeelong,Maryborough,Mildura,SeaLake
andManangatang–trackconversiontostandardgauge(partofMurrayBasinRailProject)
2023 – 2026≥ OpeningofMelbourneMetrotunnels–releasescapacity
onRRLlinesbydivertingMeltontrainsontoseparatetracksatHopkinsRoad
≥ Sunshine–gradeseparatedjunctionofBendigolinewithMeltonsuburbanlines
≥ SunshinetoCarolineSpringsandHopkinsRoad–trackquadruplication
≥ DeerPark–twoadditionalplatforms≥ Re-arrangementofRobinsonsRoadJunction≥ Melton–third250mplatformforterminatingtrains≥ TelephoneRoadtoParwanLoopandBacchusMarsh
trackduplicationincludingbi-directionalsignallingforovertakingmovements
≥ Warrenheip–newParkwaystationwithparkingfor1000+cars≥ Ballaratstation–trackandplatformre-arrangementfor
bettertrain/trainandtrain/roadcoach/businterchange≥ EurekaStadium–newplatformandsignalling≥ BallarattoWendouree–trackduplicationanddualgauging≥ BallaratWest–newtrainstablingsidingsandservicingfacility≥ WendoureetoArarat–trackconversiontostandardgauge≥ Allstations–additionalcarparkingandimprovedbus
interchanges
2027 – 2030≥ Sunshine–newplatformsforfastlinetoMelbourneAirport≥ HopkinsRoadtoMelton–trackquadruplication≥ HopkinsRoad–newstation(linkedtolevelcrossingremoval)≥ LevelcrossingremovalsatHopkinsRoadandLeakesRoad≥ Rockbank–stationreconstruction(linkedtoLeakesRoad
levelcrossingremoval)≥ LevelcrossingremovalsatPaynesRoad,MountCottrell
RoadandFerrisRoad≥ LevelcrossingremovalsatStationStreetandCoburnsRoad≥ Melton–stationre-construction(linkedtoStationStreet
andCoburnsRoadlevelcrossingremovals)≥ MeltontoTelephoneRoad-trackduplication(including
MeltonWeirbridge)andbi-directionalsignallingforovertakingmovements
≥ Parwan–newstation≥ WarrenheiptoBallaratEast–third(standardgauge)
tracklinkedtoGeelongline≥ WarrenheipParkwaystation–additionalplatforms
2031 – 2040≥ RowsleytoBallan–passinglanetrackduplication
(incorporatingBankBoxpassingloop);≥ BallanpassinglanetoBungareeloop–duplication≥ BungareepassinglanetoWarrenheip–trackduplication≥ Trawalla–newcrossingloopbetweenWendoureeandBeaufort
2041 – 2050≥ NewparttunnelledlinebetweenSouthernCross,
WestFootscrayandSunshineforGeelongandBallaratlinefastregionaltrains
≥ Extensivecurvestraighteningtopermit200km/hrunningwherepracticable
≥ LevelcrossingremovalprogramRowsleytoWarrenheip≥ Highvoltage(25KvAC)electrificationSouthernCross
toBallaratfornewhighperformanceregionaltrains,replacingVLocityfleet
*These projects form part of the current Ballarat Line Upgrade (BLU) project.
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THE BALLARAT LINE UPGRADEThe$518millionallocationfortheBallaratLineupgradeinthe2016StateBudgetwilldomuchtohelpimprovetrainservicereliabilityandprovidemorepassinglanesandplatformsthatwillallowformoreoff-peakservices.Butmuchmoreisneededtosupportandencourageregionalgrowth.Thecurrentupgradedoesn’tincludeplatformextensionsforthelongertrainswithmoreseatsthatwillsoonbeneededanditcan’tdeliverthefasterjourneytimesBallaratpeoplewant,especiallyforjourneystowork.
MELTON ELECTRIFICATIONElectrifyingtherailwaytoMeltonwilltripleitscarryingcapacity—electrictrainscancarry1,100ormorepeoplecomparedwith444seatsina6-carVLocityset.PopulationgrowthinBrimbank,MeltonandMooraboolrequireselectrification,buttheimportantconnectionwithBallaratcanberetained,makingMeltonaninterchangestationwithaccesstobothsuburbanandregionaltrains.By2026,itwillalsoconnectintotheMelbourneMetrotunnelsandreleasepreciouscapacityontheRRLlinesinfromDeerPark,permittingmorepeakperiodservicesfromandtoBallaratandGeelong.
QUADRUPLICATION TO MELTONTheBallaratlinecurrentlytriestoservebothsuburbanandregionalpassengers—butmixingregionalandsuburbantrainsmakesregionaljourneysmuchlonger.FasterBallarattrainswillincreasinglybecaughtbehindfrequentsuburbantrainsthatrunatmuchloweraveragespeeds,becauseofstopsatsuburbanstations.
Itisthereforevitalthatsuburbanandregionaltrainsaresegregated.Quadruplication(twoadditionalexpresstracks)fromSunshinetoMelton,extendingthepreviouslycompletedRegionalRailLinktracksbetweenSunshineandSouthernCross,togetherwithduplicationfromMeltontoBacchusMarshincludingsignallingdesignedforovertakingbyBallaratexpresstrains,ishowthissegregationandfastertripscanbeachievedontheBallaratline.
COMPLETING DUPLICATION BACCHUS MARSH TO BALLARATUltimately,theentirelinetoBallaratneedstobeduplicated.Gradeseparationwillbeneededtoeliminatemostlevelcrossingsandthelineupgradedfor200km/hoperationwheregradesandcurvesallowit.TheseinvestmentswillallowtheworldclasstrainserviceBallaratneeds.TheFreewayhasbeenduplicated;therailwaywillalsoneedfullduplicationsoon!
IMPLEMENTATION PLAN 2018 – 2026 PROPOSED INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT PROGRAM
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BOOMING DEMAND FOR RAIL TRAVELAlreadyBallaratcitizensareprovidedwith22trainsaday.Verysoon,thepeakserviceswillbefilledtocapacity.Inthenexttenyearsatleast30trainsadaywillbeneeded,witha20-minuteserviceinthetwo-hourpeakineachdirection.
BOOMING POPULATIONBallarat’spopulationisgrowingat1.9%ayear,andthepresentlevelof104,000willreach137,000by2031andcouldbe175,000by2050.Bythen,populationofthewiderBallaratRegionislikelytoexceed250,000.Wemusthavetheinfrastructuretoservicethatpopulation.
High capacity electric trains being built now can carry 1,100 or more passengers; platforms will be built or extended to suit them. They need to run to Melton.
IMPLEMENTATION PLAN 2018 – 2026 PROPOSED INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT PROGRAM
TRACK AND ROLLING STOCKToprovidefortheneedsofthenext5and10years,investmentisneedednowinextratracks,lengthenedplatformsandlongertrainswithmoreseatstosupportthelevelofservicethatwillbeneeded.Thisplanningmustbedonenow!
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ACCORDING TO THE VICTORIAN GOVERNMENT’S OFFICIAL POPULATION GROWTH FORECASTS VICTORIA IN FUTURE 2016:
The fastest growing metro municipality to 2051 will be Melton, served by the
Ballarat line (4.4% growth)
The second fastest regional growth area
to 2051 will be Moorabool (2.4% growth)
With 1.9% growth, Ballarat’s* population
will be over 250,000 by 2051
The largest growth in numbers to 2051 will be
Wyndham – (an additional 198,000 people)
– Wyndham Vale trains will still be sharing the inner
end of the Ballarat line
*Ballarat Statistical Area (SA4) official projection. By 2051, population of the Ballarat Local Government Area (SA3) could be around 175,000.
The journey to work on Melton/Bacchus Marsh/Ballarat BOOMING POPULATION line trains sometimes looks like this…
(Quadruplication will allow electric trains to Melton to operate on separate tracks).
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IT’S THE TOTAL JOURNEY THAT COUNTSThewholecommutebetweenBallaratandMelbourne,orviceversa,includesthetimeneededtogettothestation,waitforthetrain,andcompletethejourney.Thejourneytimeonthetraincanbeexpeditedbybetterrailinfrastructure,fewercurvesandstopsandfasterrollingstock.Butthejourneytoandfromthestationisveryimportanttoo.
Manypeoplewanttodrivetothestation,andtheyneedtobeabletofindaparkingspoteasily,leavetheircarinasafeplace,andgeteasilytotheplatform.OurWarrenheipParkwayproposal,illustratedabove,isdesignedforthispurpose.ItisplannedtobeanintegratednewstationcomplexatWarrenheipthatwillservebothBallarattoMelbournetrainsandfutureBallarattoGeelongtrains.Itisdesignedtoaccommodate1,000+vehicles,withinnomorethana5-minutewalktotheplatform,aconvenientbusinterchangeandaccommodationforalargenumberofbicycles.
Thereisnocost-efficientwaytoprovidethismanycarparksincentralBallarat.AndaWarrenheipParkwaywillbeidealforallthoselivingontheMelbournesideofBallarat,aswellasthosefromMountHelenandBuninyong.ItwillcomplementthesimilarfacilityatWendouree,alreadywellusedbythoseonthewesternsideofthecity.
WARRENHEIP PARKWAY STATION
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BALLARAT RAIL ACTION COMMITTEE
For more information, contact:
Kwabena Ansah Melton City Council PO Box 21 Melton VIC 3337 03 9747 7200
Email: [email protected]
Technical Input: John Hearsch Consulting Pty Ltd
A joint project of:
The Ballarat railway can provide a fast gateway for residents and tourists to the region’s unique tourist attractions, communities and natural beauty.