HIGH speed VLocity trains could operate on the Warrnambool to Melbourne line when a number of level crossings and their signalling systems are upgraded, according to V/Line chief executive officer James Pinder.
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He said the introduction of VLocity trains to the line was included in the regional rail revival plan and it was not a matter of if but when.
Mr Pinder, who was in Warrnambool on Tuesday, rejected claims the line's infrastructure would not be able to accommodate the trains. "Providing we've got the right configuration of the level crossings and the right configuration of the signalling, we can run those trains on any of the network," he said.
He said a number of level crossings on the line had been upgraded following the Pirron Yallock derailment, but there would be more that need similar upgrades before the introduction of the high speed trains.
"Everything we are doing has a desired outcome of eventually operating more services to Warrnambool and using VLocity trains," he said.
"If we are going to introduce VLocity trains to this part of the network - while it's not set in stone when that's going to happen, it's fair to say that's the ultimate aim and aspiration - there will be a number of other level crossings that we have to upgrade because VLocity trains are capable of going faster and they're designed differently to the current trains we operate."
Mr Pinder said he could not comment on when VLocity trains would be introduced to the Warrnambool line. "It's very difficult because there are no two lines - no two scenarios are the same but typically it takes a number of years, not a number of months," he said.
He said he had not seen the level of government investment in rail in his 30 years working in the industry.
"It obviously comes with great responsibility about making sure we get it right because I think it's probably - for me anyway - a once in a lifetime opportunity," he said.
Mr Pinder said V/Line was also working towards offering five services to Warrnambool each day as part of the regional revival plan.
"Ultimately what we're aiming for is to get to that situation where we're running more services to Warrnambool," he said.
Mr Pinder said V/Line was committed to conducting regular reviews of its trains and their condition. "We work very hard to make sure that our trains are presentable," he said. "We've embarked on a new regime of keeping trains clean - it's something I'm really quite passionate about.
"We've just embarked on a similar process for the insides of the trains to give them a spruce up."
Mr Pinder said passenger numbers were increasing on services right across the state.
He said population growth in places such as Warrnambool would most likely result in an increased number of train services.
"We're not just focusing on increasing the number of services during the week, we're also focusing on increasing the number of services we deliver at the weekend," Mr Pinder said.
The federal government has committed a total of $2.7 billion to the Warrnambool line in the 2019 budget.
This includes $2 billion for fast rail between Geelong and Melbourne and $700 million for the Geelong rail duplication project.
