An alliance-backed push may be helping the Murray Basin Rail freight project move quicker
The East Gippsland Shire Council is joining locals to express concern over delays to the Murray Basin Rail Project (MBRP) despite the Victorian department of transport awarding contracts for upcoming works.
The council is asking Victorian premier Daniel Andrews to honour the government’s promise to finish the project in accordance with original plans while also backing a request from the Rail Freight Alliance (RFA) to get the project on track.
The council is a member of the RFA, with the alliance forming a statewide push to get the Victorian government to get the project on schedule ahead of the state election.
According to the RFA, ensuring the completion of the MBRP to the original scope and ensuring the Victorian Rail Freight Network remains in state ownership and control are critical objectives that will ensure success for future freight movements in Victoria.
As a member of the RFA, the council says it’s important to support the alliance and raise the need for rail freight movements in Victoria to be seen to in a fast and cost-effective way to ensure maximum efficiency for transport goods while reducing road transport.
In response the Victorian department of transport announced that the alliance delivering the MBRP improvements has been awarded a contract for the next package of works.
The alliance includes Acciona, Coleman Rail and SMEC and is supported by Rail Projects Victoria and V/Line.
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The next part of the upgrades includes fixing tracks on the Ararat – Maryborough line and the Merbein and Donald siding works, while significant planning and consulting will also continue to ensure works are completed by the end of this year.
The three company alliance was awarded the contract after replacing more than 57,000 sleepers and installing 30,000 tonnes of ballast on 109 kilometres of line recently, with the department of transport moving to initiate further upgrades.
Once completed, the upgrades will allow 49 train paths on the Murray Basin network, which is an increase from the 28 paths, and will remove around 20,000 rucks off the road.
Despite stalling in 2019 when the initial budget was exhausted, the RFA-backed push to get the project back on track may be paying dividends.