electrify the Melton and Wyndham Vale lines <\/a>\u2013 a commitment taken to the past two elections \u2013 continues to drag out.<\/p>\nInfrastructure Victoria\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
The federal and state governments have jointly committed $152.7m to begin preparatory works for the line\u2019s electrification.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, a separate $4bn project is under way to untangle rail lines and transform Sunshine Station into a \u201csuper hub,\u201d a key step toward electrification.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
The new trains, likely to be assembled in Victoria, would run on diesel before switching to overhead electric power through city corridors.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Opposition Leader Jess Wilson said the Coalition\u2019s plan would deliver metro-quality train services to Melbourne\u2019s west sooner, including more trains and more seats.<\/p>\n
\u201cLabor has twice promised and twice failed to deliver the modern train services communities across Melton and Wyndham Vale deserve,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cLabor says one thing before an election then does another afterwards.\u201d<\/p>\n
South Australia has converted Adelaide\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
\u201cSuburban passengers need suburban trains,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cLabor 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\u2019s west.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Coalition also announced they would establish a new and independent Public Transport Victoria (PTV) board to ensure Victoria\u2019s public transport system is fully focused on better service delivery for commuters and taxpayers. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Coalition has pledged $1.7bn to introduce the state\u2019s first hybrid electric trains to Melbourne\u2019s booming western 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