By BRIDGET COOK
CASEY residents are set to benefit from a $2 billion to $2.5 billion rail overhaul for services that cater to the south-east region.
Premier Denis Napthine yesterday announced the multi-billion dollar program which will transform the Cranbourne and Pakenham lines, to deliver a 30 per cent capacity boost for the busy rail corridor.
The project will deliver 25 new high-volume trains and high-capacity signalling on the Pakenham and Cranbourne lines, which will enable more trains to run more often.
A new train maintenance depot will be built at Pakenham East, which will create local jobs.
Dr Napthine said the project was another significant win for public transport that would see the number of trains running every peak hour increase to a total of 18 services.
“This significant investment in next-generation technology will give us high capacity trains that can carry more passengers and high capacity signalling that will allow trains to run more frequently,” he said.
“With more trains running more often, that’s an extra 4500 people in the peak hour who can get where they need to go as quickly as possible.”
Dr Napthine said Melbourne’s south-east was one of the fastest growing employment and population centres in Melbourne.
“The Pakenham and Cranbourne rail corridor serves one in 10 Melburnians and by delivering this project we will provide a more frequent and reliable journey for passengers on both the Cranbourne and Pakenham lines,” he said.
For the full story, see next week’s News.
