BALLARAT RAIL ACTION COMMITTEEMAY 2018

STRATEGY FOR A HIGH PERFORMING BALLARAT RAILWAY

‘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%by2050–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: kwabena.ansah@melton.vic.gov.au

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.