Improving transport connections between our capital cities and their regional centres has the potential to

support the economic and population growth of the regions. In particular, faster passenger rail links can
strengthen economic ties and connect people en masse to housing, jobs and services.

The Australian Government’s Faster Rail Plan will deliver faster, more efficient and reliable services to our
fast growing cities and regional centres.

Project Description
The Australian Government is providing $8 million to fund a business case for faster rail between
Melbourne and Albury-Wodonga. This corridor warrants investigation due to the opportunity to shift
commuter demand from road to rail, the potential to stimulate regional growth, and provide access to
jobs, services, housing and lifestyle amenity. The Australian Government funding for this business case
will be provided on a 50:50 basis with the relevant state government, and/or the private sector.

The business case will undertake an options analysis to determine the optimal rail solution, determine
requirements for integration with the existing rail network, and provide patronage assessment, economic
appraisal and funding and financial analysis.

Corridor
The Melbourne to Albury-Wodonga rail line is 305 kilometres. Passenger rail on this corridor is operated
by V-Line and takes approximately 235 minutes from Melbourne to Albury-Wodonga, with an average
speed of 77.8 kilometres per hour.

Benefits
• Faster passenger rail links that strengthen economic and social ties and effectively connect
people to housing, jobs and services.

• Increased services to the growing population along the Melbourne to Albury-Wodonga corridor.

Related / Complementary Projects

In the 2017-18 Budget, the Australian Government committed $20 million in funding to support the
development of faster rail business cases including Sydney to Newcastle, Melbourne to Greater
Shepparton, and Brisbane to regions of Moreton Bay and the Sunshine Coast.

The Australian Government has committed $235 million towards capital improvements on the Melbourne
to Albury-Wodonga line to improve the speed, ride quality, reliability and resilience of the line for
passenger rail services.
Project Map