The Government of Victoria in Australia has allocated A$131m ($96.8m) in order to provide more train services to Geelong and South West Victoria, as well as for new services in the future.
The funds are from its 2016-17 state budget and they will help increase regional train services for Geelong, including an extra 54 every week, four off-peak every day, and 26 on weekends.
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The investment will also deliver services on the Warrnambool line, including 50 weekly, and more weekday and Sunday services.
In addition, the budget provides $3m to develop a business case for duplication of the line between South Geelong to Waurn Ponds.
Victoria’s Minister for Public Transport Jacinta Allan said: "This massive investment will deliver more trains, more often for Geelong and Victoria’s South West Coast, so people can spend less time on platforms and more time with family and friends."
The move is part of the government’s $1.3bn investment in better regional train services, which includes $280m for 27 new VLocity carriages, $141m for critical maintenance, and $198m to rebuild V/Line, in order to deliver the extra services for people in Geelong.
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By GlobalDataMember for Geelong Christine Couzens said: "Geelong is booming. We need more trains to Geelong and the growing areas in the south and that’s what this budget delivers."
