May 4th, 2022Better freight rail network

The state government is making another major investment in Victoria’s freight rail network, boosting
safety and reliability, while enabling producers to transport their product quicker and cheaper to port and to market.
The Victorian Budget 2022/23 will deliver $181 million for critical maintenance works to improve rail freight competitiveness and support the growing freight task that is vital to regional economies and supply chains.
With Victorian freight volumes set to nearly triple by 2051 and approximately $26 billion of locally produced and manufactured exports passing through Victoria’s commercial ports annually, the government remains focused on increasing the amount of freight transported by rail across the state.
Minister for Ports and Freight Melissa Horne has announced maintenance works will be carried out on freight rail corridors across the State, with a focus on western, north-western, and metropolitan corridors,
and the Benalla-Oaklands freight line.
The investment will support V/Line to continue vital maintenance, progressively improving load capacity and line speeds to significant rail freight and grain handling sites across regional Victoria, such as Mitiamo.
Minister for Public Transport Ben Carroll: “Upgrades to the V/Line freight network will help support the state’s freight sector, enabling strong economic growth for Victoria well into the future. “By increasing the share of freight onto rail, it will reduce truck traffic contributing to safer roads, lower vehicle emissions and reduced congestion across the arterial network for all Victorians.”