The Coalition has pledged $1.7bn to introduce the state’s first hybrid electric trains to Melbourne’s booming western suburbs, a move that would more than double capacity.
Under the fresh election commitment, suburban trains carrying up to 1200 passengers would be trialled on the Melton and Wyndham Vale lines within four years.
The new trains would also pave the way for more peak-hour services on the western suburbs lines to cater for the region’s rapidly growing population.
Commuters in the west still rely on V/Line diesel services that carry up to about 450 passengers and wait 20 minutes during peak times, compared to as little as three minutes on the Sunbury, Cranbourne, and Pakenham lines that run through the new Metro Tunnel.
Plans for nine-car VLocity trains which carry up to 700 passengers are already underway and expected to hits tracks next year.
The new Coalition announcement comes as Labor’s long-promised plan to electrify the Melton and Wyndham Vale lines – a commitment taken to the past two elections – continues to drag out.
Infrastructure Victoria’s economic assessment found electrifying the Melton line alone would cost between $4.7bn and $5.5bn, while returning up to $1.70 for every dollar invested.
The federal and state governments have jointly committed $152.7m to begin preparatory works for the line’s electrification.
Meanwhile, a separate $4bn project is under way to untangle rail lines and transform Sunshine Station into a “super hub,” a key step toward electrification.
The Coalition said its hybrid train plan would offer a cheaper and faster short-term alternative but committed to forging ahead with electrification in the long term.
The new trains, likely to be assembled in Victoria, would run on diesel before switching to overhead electric power through city corridors.
Depending on the trains ultimately built, the opposition said the hybrid fleet could also allow extra City Loop services each hour during peak periods on the Melton and Wyndham Vale lines.
Opposition Leader Jess Wilson said the Coalition’s plan would deliver metro-quality train services to Melbourne’s west sooner, including more trains and more seats.
“Labor has twice promised and twice failed to deliver the modern train services communities across Melton and Wyndham Vale deserve,” she said.
“Labor says one thing before an election then does another afterwards.”
South Australia has converted Adelaide’s full fleet of 50 diesel railcars to hybrid-diesel operation, while NSW is testing new bi-mode trains for regional routes linking Sydney with Canberra, Melbourne and Brisbane.
Opposition spokesman for public transport Matthew Guy said the new hybrid trains would be able to run seamlessly across existing electrified and non-electrified train lines across the suburban network.
“Suburban passengers need suburban trains,” he said.
“Labor has promised electrification but broken it time and again, our Liberal and Nationals team will deliver more trains, more seats and greater capacity for Melbourne’s west.”
The Coalition also announced they would establish a new and independent Public Transport Victoria (PTV) board to ensure Victoria’s public transport system is fully focused on better service delivery for commuters and taxpayers.