Regional Fast Rail project

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.

Project overview

Modern LED railway signals at Lara, Victoria.

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.

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

Main article: Ballarat V/Line rail service

Ballarat was the first line to see V/Line'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

Main article: Geelong V/Line rail service

Launch of the Geelong line upgrades by Victorian Premier Steve Bracks and Transport minister Peter Batchelor in February 2006

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.

Bendigo line

Main article: Bendigo railway line

Track and signalling was upgraded on the Bendigo line to allow for VLocity trains running at 160 km/h between Sunbury 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

Main article: Traralgon V/Line rail service

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 Australia) 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 on the trains themselves for business travellers.

Legacy

Patronage

V/Line passenger figures (in million passenger trips) illustrating the dramatic effect on passenger numbers of Regional Fast Rail Project roll out

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 Plan 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.

Regional Rail Link

Another legacy of the Regional Fast Rail Project is the A$4 billion project called the "Regional Rail Link" 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 Australia
• Rail transport in Victoria
• Operation Phoenix
• New Deal