Mayor's train plea 'Make it express service'

A $4.3 BILLION regional rail upgrade should allow south-west passengers to travel express between Geelong and Melbourne, Warrnambool's mayor believes. Cr Michael Neoh's call for a speedier journey came after Tuesday's Federal Budget set the upgrade in motion with a $3.2 billion cash injection.The five-year project to build up to 50 kilometres of new track is designed to eliminate frustrating delays regional passengers confront when their train is stopped within sight of Melbourne's CBD. The Geelong to Melbourne leg of most Warrnambool services used to run express. Following news of the Federal Government's commitment to the project, Victorian Transport Minister Lynne Kosky said work on the new track would start in 2010. "Regional Rail Link provides capacity for more than 20 extra train services every hour across the Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo, Werribee, Craigieburn and Sunbury (Sydenham) lines, providing capacity for more than 9000 extra passengers every hour," Ms Kosky said. Cr Neoh said the additional services should allow Warrnambool passengers to have a faster trip. "I think there's a good case for Melbourne to Warrnambool trains to be express from Geelong right through to Melbourne," Cr Neoh said.Passengers at Little River, Werribee and Footscray could use other services once more had been scheduled, he said."The majority of people that want to use the Melbourne to Warrnambool (service) want to get to Melbourne for appointments and meetings," he said."We're 100 per cent for getting people off the road and using public transport and if this helps people get to Melbourne quicker . . . I'm sure it will be supported." V/line spokesman Daniel Moloney said any decision to offer new services would be influenced by passenger demand and discussions with local councils in coming years.