UN 255: Bus and rail promises for Melbourne's west

Some big public transport service promises from Labor in the last week for Melbourne's west. 

Bus

Bus promises include 11 routes going to every 10 min from 6am to 10pm 7 days. This includes some new routes including Melbourne Airport to Werribee via Rockbank. It's a massive promise that would make buses in the west some of the best in Australia with service levels even exceeding our trams, trams and buses elsewhere in Melbourne. 

Concept map below (click for better view):

My video of deputy premier Gabrielle Williams media conference at West Tarneit here:

Rail

Today trains in the west (and a bit in the north) were the focus of Labor's attention. Age item says that 550 extra services per week are promised. This would cost $420m over 4 years to increase V/Line services by 24%. 

This would be split as follows: 

* Wyndham Vale 249 (with off-peak Geelong expresses)

* Melton 162 (not clear whether this boosts weekends from 40 to 20 min) 

* Bendigo 101

* Seymour 29

ABC story on this is here.

Will any of this happen? Labor is trailing in the polls and most pundits are tipping a Liberal-National Coalition victory with majority government increasingly within reach.

Cost blowouts and heavy borrowing during the Big Build era has lead to rising debt payments that are competing with other priorities including maintenance of existing assets and any desire to add services (which are opex heavy). 

The Coalition has pledged hybrid electric trains for Melton and the return of passenger trains to Mildura and Dimboola. 

An index to all Useful Network items is here