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VIC regional plan

Victoria’s Regional Network Development Plan (RNDP) has now been released to the public

The Victoria Government has released the first ever long-term strategy for public transport in regional areas.

The Connecting Regional Victoria – Victoria’s Regional Network Development Plan (RNDP) sets out a short, medium and long-term plan for more trains, improved stations and better bus services.

The RNDP outlines the series of infrastructure and rolling stock improvements required to deliver commuter-style services to Geelong, Bendigo, Ballarat, Seymour and Traralgon – including track upgrades, better signalling and new trains and stabling.

In the long term, regional coaches will be improved, with more services, better interchanges and a comprehensive review of routes, to improve connections between towns and major regional centres.

Local bus services will also be reviewed and improved, to ensure bus networks grow and change as regional communities do.

The RNDP also sets out plans for future improvements to ticketing on regional services, better passenger information, and major improvements to rail freight to support jobs and regional economy.

“This is the first ever long-term strategy for better public transport in our regions, with more services, improved stations and better bus and coach connections, to get people where they need to go quickly, reliably and safely,” says Minister for Public Transport Jacinta Allan.

“The RNDP ends the ad-hoc approach to public transport planning that has held regional Victoria back, setting out a more coordinated network where trains, buses and coaches work together in the best interests of passengers.” 

“It is the product of one of the most extensive public consultation programs every carried out in regional Victoria, and reflects the passion, ingenuity and local knowledge of passengers who our system every day.”

The RNDP is the product of one of the largest public consultation programs ever carried out in regional Victoria, with nearly 40 workshops held right across the state, gathering more than 15,000 individual pieces of feedback.

This feedback was critical in the development of the strategy and the recent Victorian Budget 2016/17.

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