The state government is maintaining its commitment to bringing high-speed VLocity trains to the Warrnambool rail line.
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A V/Line document released in parliament on Wednesday revealed the state government would not operate the high-speed trains on the line even after $114 million upgrades were completed.
But Minister for Transport Infrastructure Jacinta Allan hit back on Thursday saying the document only outlined some of the works necessary as part of the upgrade, including those needed to enable a fifth return service and reduce delays.
"It’s not all the work required to bring VLocity carriages to Warrnambool, but it does not mean that that work will not be done – it will be, by an Andrews Labor Government," she told The Standard.
Ms Allan said the first sequence of upgrades would boost services, improve reliability and "pave the way" for modern VLocity carriages.
"Work on the project is already underway, with construction scheduled to begin by the end of the year and targeted for completion in late 2020," she said.
The Standard has asked the government several times to indicate when the VLocity carriages would run on the line. On Thursday a government spokesperson said they would operate "once the upgrades are complete". But no date was given.
Public Transport Users Association regional spokesman Paul Westcott said the government's 2017 announcement had raised unreasonable expectations.
"It seems that at the time of the announcement, the community was led to believe that VLocity trains would operate sooner rather than later," he said.
"But I still think it's likely VLocitys will run on the line and now that those improvements have been made, it is even more likely."
The Warrnambool rail line is a class two track which allows a maximum speed of 115 km/h.
Class one is the highest quality track with a maximum speed of 160 km/h - the top speed for VLocity.
Mr Westcott said the high-speed trains were capable of running on a class two track but not at full speed.
He said active level crossing protection, including boom gates and flashing lights, was also required in order to operate VLocity carriages.
He said he didn't believe the Warrnambool line had proper protection despite the upgrade of 22 level crossings last year.
He said those level crossings would have to be upgraded again, or trains would have to slow down in order to cater for VLocitys.
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