By Charlene Macaulay
The state opposition has vowed to build a European-style high speed rail link between Geelong and Melbourne in the next four years if the Coalition wins government.
The Geelong Metro project will re-establish a direct train service between Geelong and Werribee, with a service from Werribee to Waurn Ponds via Geelong.
Many Wyndham commuters have been crying out for a reinstated Werribee-Geelong service since Geelong trains were diverted to Regional Rail Link tracks in June 2015 and a direct metropolitan train service between Geelong and Werribee was axed.
Opposition Leader Matthew Guy said reaching speeds of 200km/h, the high speed rail line would almost halve travel times between Geelong and Melbourne to 32 minutes.
David Davis from the opposition said if elected, the Coalition would complete the project in its first term of government.
“The added rail capacity under our regional plan will help people in Melbourne’s west access our public transport by decongesting the current network,” he said.
“Reducing congestion in the western suburbs, which are growing incredibly fast, is critically important which is why we have a plan to decentralise our population.”
The project, which is expected to cost between $15-$19 million, will need funding from the state and federal governments and the private sector to be completed.
Wyndham council city economy director Peter McKinnon said the council lended in-principle support to any policy to improve rail capacity.
“A rail network like the one proposed by the state opposition has the potential to improve the efficiency of the metropolitan rail network, which will have a positive benefit on growing municipalities like ours,” Mr McKinnon said.
