WORKS to reopen the Ararat-Maryborough rail line have commenced as part of the $440 million Murray Basin Rail Project.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Stage 2 of the project will standardise rail gauges across regional Victoria to better link regional industries with state’s major ports, drive growth and take 20,000 trucks off roads each year.
Federal Transport Minister Darren Chester, Victorian Public Transport Minister Jacinta Allan, federal Member for Wannon Dan Tehan and state Member for Ripon Louise Staley visited rail works at Maryborough on Monday.
Crews will reopen the Maryborough to Ararat line with the works to increase train axle loadings from 19 tonnes to 21 tonnes to allow freight trains to carry heavier loads.
Preliminary works along the line are already underway including vegetation removal and site investigations.
Mr Chester said the project would provide better rail access between the Murray Basin and Victoria’s major ports at Portland, Geelong and Melbourne.
“Improving the performance of the regional Victorian rail freight network will bolster the state’s agricultural sector, drive economic growth, help create jobs and boost regional communities,” he said.
“The Murray Basin Rail Project will standardise rail gauges and increase maximum freight volumes, allowing higher volumes of goods to be carried more efficiently.”
Ms Allan said the project was great news for regional Victoria.
“We’re boosting capacity, safety and reliability of freight services in regional Victoria so we can meet the
future growth of the region,” she said.
“This much-needed project will enable primary producers to move produce to market, more efficiently.”
Mr Tehan said the upgrade project itself would also benefit employment in the region.
“The Murray Basin Rail Project will ultimately enable trains to carry up to 500,000 more tonnes of grain each year and capture about 20,000 journeys currently undertaken by trucks, improving road safety and the road network for all those who use our local roads.”
Ms Staley said the project would created jobs in Ripon and would massively upgrade the rail networks for freight.
“Millions of dollars of regional grain will be taken off roads,” she said.