The Federal Government has signed a Bilateral Agreement in relation to Inland Rail today, allowing money for much-needed upgrades to regional rail through the Regional Rail Revival program to be delivered.
Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester announced an historic $530 million for Gippsland rail upgrades last year, when he was Minister for Infrastructure and Transport.
“This is the first time the Federal Government has invested directly in rail in Gippsland,” Mr Chester said.
The Gippsland funding is part of a wider $1.7 billion Victorian regional rail upgrade, to which the State Government is contributing a smaller share of $150 million.
The signing of the agreement between the Federal and State Governments is the next step to seeing those works to fruition.
“Now an agreement on Inland Rail has been reached, money for the $1.7 billion Regional Rail Revival program can be delivered to Victoria,” Mr Chester said.
“The works delivered under the Regional Rail Revival Program will provide upgrades to regional passenger rail lines across Victoria.
“In Gippsland, that means $530 million for level crossing upgrades and track duplication works, and replacing the old Stratford bridge over the Avon River.
“These works will create jobs in Gippsland – it’s estimated up to 400 new jobs in the Latrobe Valley.”
On completion, the Inland Rail Project will create a direct rail freight connection between Melbourne and Brisbane capable of moving double stacked freight containers. Inland Rail will deliver almost $7 billion in additional state gross product through construction and in the first 50 years of operation.
The Victorian Government has committed to purchase new trains for the corridor once works on the track are complete.
The Regional Rail Revival program will deliver more frequent, reliable services and will support over 1000 jobs.
