Labor pledges to boost regional rail and attacks Liberal costings

Detailed summary

Labor is promising a $420 million boost to Victoria's regional rail services while attacking the Liberal leader's commitment to each a cash surplus by 2032.

Labor will commit $420 million to boost Victoria's regional rail services if it wins the election.

The plan would mean an extra 550 extra weekly V/Line services to regional centres.

Labor is also attacking the Liberal leader's pledge to reach a budget surplus by 2032.

Regional and outer suburban commuters would get an extra 550 weekly V/Line train trips if Labor is re-elected, as the party costs Jess Wilson's commitment to reduce the public service to claim she cannot reach her promised cash surplus.

Premier Ben Carroll will today commit $420 million to increase the regional train network by 24 per cent, targeting voters in regional and outer-fringe seats where Labor is under pressure from both the Coalition and One Nation.

Transport in the outer-west and south-west has been especially painful for the government. Melton and Wyndham Vale still rely on V/Line, two elections after Daniel Andrews promised to electrify the tracks.

Under Labor's announcement today, Melton would get an extra 162 weekly trips from 2027 so that services run every 20 minutes. Longer nine-car trains previously announced will also run from next year.

Wyndham Vale would get a dedicated new service with 249 weekly trips, to minimise crowding.

Geelong would get more express services as a result, cutting 10 minutes from the journey with double the number of total services. An extra two services would also run on Sundays to Geelong and Waurn Ponds.

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