“The Regional Rail Link Community Reference Group will be a key channel for community involvement in this vital infrastructure project,” Mr Albanese said.

“We are looking for community representatives from Maribyrnong, Brimbank, Wyndham, Geelong, Bendigo and Ballarat to provide valuable input during the development and construction of the new rail line.

He believed this was an opportunity for community members to have direct involvement in the project and to help the project team and contractors understand local conditions and priorities.
 
“Regional Rail Link separates regional trains from metropolitan trains – for the first time giving Geelong, Bendigo, and Ballarat trains their own dedicated tracks through the metropolitan system from Sunshine to Southern Cross Station,” Mr Albanese said.

Regional Rail Link is jointly funded by the Gillard and Brumby Labor Governments, with the Commonwealth contributing $3.2 billion.

Victorian Public Transport Minister, Martin Pakula, said the project would include new regional tracks from west of Werribee to Deer Park, with new stations at Tarneit and Wyndham Vale.

“As well as increasing capacity and reliability for Geelong, Bendigo and Ballarat services, it will free up critically needed space for additional suburban services on the Werribee, Sydenham and Craigieburn lines,” Mr Pakula said.

“Members of the Community Reference Group will also play an important role in providing relevant information and updates on the project to residents, businesses, interest groups and other key stakeholders in their area.”

Mr Pakula said community members of the group would be selected based on their local networks and their ability to constructively represent a broad range of views in a consultative forum. Councils will also be invited to participate.

The project could provide enough capacity for up to 9,000 extra passengers across the network in the peak hour.