Regional Victorians will get more trains, better bus services, new connections and upgraded stations to get where they need to go quickly, reliably and safely.

The Victorian Government has launched the Regional Network Development Plan - the first-ever long term plan to improve public transport in regional Victoria.

The Regional Network Development Plan guides the short, medium and long term priorities needed to modernise the network with more track, more train, better facilities and more services.





https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RPN2SQ4Hac

It sets out a medium to long term plan to deliver a modern commuter-style service for the growth areas of Geelong, Bendigo, Ballarat, Seymour and Traralgon, and service improvements to outer regional areas. It outlines a pathway to deliver:

a commuter-style service with a minimum 20 minute train frequency in the peak

a 40 minute off-peak frequency of services to Melbourne

Five services, five days a week to the outer regional train lines of Warrnambool, Bairnsdale, Albury-Wodonga, Echuca, Swan Hill and Shepparton.

The plan sets out three strategic, network-wide priorities for regional public transport:

Building a better public transport network

Putting passengers first

Developing local transport solutions.

The Victorian government has invested $1.3 billion in the 2016/17 state budget to get many projects included in the plan underway immediately including:

More than 170 extra off-peak services, building on the 342 services added in 2015, to help deliver the frequent service regional Victoria needs every day of the week

Purchase of an additional 27 VLocity carriages and stabling infrastructure to boost capacity on the regional network

Critical major maintenance to guard against deterioration of the network and improve train reliability

Funding to rebuild V/Line capacity and deliver the services passengers expect and deserve

Car park, passenger facilities and customer information upgrades at over 30 regional train stations, coach interchanges

Development funding for the next phase of works in the Regional Network Development Plan.

Consultation

The Regional Network Development Plan has been developed following one of the most extensive public consultation processes ever undertaken in regional Victoria.

For the first time, regional communities were consulted on the current and future public transport needs of their region, with people sharing their ideas through several channels including:

More than 1400 people attended 38 workshops across the state

1700 surveys completed

670 comments posted in online discussion forums

100 submissions

More than 15,000 pieces of feedback was received, which was refined using transport modelling.





Several initiatives proposed by regional Victorians will be trailed, including running coach services directly to outer Melbourne, allowing bikes on buses in tourist areas, and introducing services to cater for seasonal travel demand in places like the Bellarine Peninsula.