An industry searches to help deliver faster services for Geelong has already drawn a significant pool of interested businesses and specialist suppliers stretching from Melbourne to Madrid.

Federal Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts the Hon Paul Fletcher MP, and Victorian Minister for Transport Infrastructure the Hon Jacinta Allan MP, today revealed that since February, more than 70 international, national and local organisations had flagged interest in building or financing stage one of Geelong Fast Rail.

The strong response comes as part of an ongoing Registrations of Interest process for the project, which will cut travel times between Geelong and Melbourne to around 50 minutes.

Minister Fletcher said this is great news for this much-needed project, which will involve significant infrastructure upgrades to part of the Geelong corridor over several years.

“The Geelong Fast Rail is one of many critical infrastructure projects to receive funding from the Morrison Government as part of its record $110 billion, 10-year infrastructure pipeline,” Minister Fletcher said.

“Our Government is committing $2 billion to help kick-start this much-needed project, which will deliver more frequent and faster rail services and help commuters travelling between Geelong and Melbourne get home sooner and safer.”

Registered organisations include those in construction, engineering and rail systems, while other specialties include architecture and finance.

They include locally based operations in Geelong and Melbourne, with others based interstate or internationally in Spain, Singapore and South Korea.

Minister Allan said that it is great to see the response from local and international companies as we get on with this vital project that will create thousands of jobs.
“This early market sounding is important for projects of this scale, providing a level of confidence when the time comes to procure contractors and seek out suppliers for potential partnerships competitively,” Ms Allan said.

“More than 2,800 jobs are expected to be supported through the first stage of Geelong Fast Rail, which will help to give Victoria’s fastest-growing regional city the better rail service it deserves.”

Rail Projects Victoria is also seeking a technical advisor to support the project with engineering, communications and stakeholder engagement activities as it progresses with detailed planning work to refine the project’s scope, timing and expected cost.

An extensive site investigations program is also expected to start later this year better to understand existing ground conditions along the rail corridor.

There are two rail corridors to Geelong: one via Werribee and one via Wyndham Vale, Tarneit and Sunshine. The Werribee corridor is around eight kilometres shorter and has been selected as the route for faster Geelong services.

Construction on the first stage of Geelong Fast Rail is expected to commence in 2023, subject to relevant Federal and State planning, environmental and government approvals. A total of $4 billion has been allocated towards the project, comprising $2 billion each from the Victorian and Commonwealth governments.

The first stage of Geelong Fast Rail supports faster services and complements a series of other investments along the Geelong Line to increase the capacity, reliability and frequency of services. These include the Waurn Ponds Station upgrade, Waurn Ponds stabling facility and South Geelong to Waurn Ponds Duplication.

More information on the first stage of Geelong Fast Rail is available at railprojects.vic.gov.au/geelong-fast-rail.