Victoria
Bendigo and Geelong urged to adopt light rail
Regional Victorian cities Geelong and Bendigo are exploring light rail options as part of a national push for sustainable transport solutions.
Bendigo and Geelong are being urged to adopt light rail as a potential solution to their growing transport needs, according to reporting by a wire service. This shift comes as several regional and metropolitan cities across Australia look to modernise their public transport networks.
The concept of utilising light rail is not entirely new for regional Victoria. Almost 20 years ago, transport expert Peter Newman advocated for Bendigo's historic trams to be utilised as active public transport rather than just tourist attractions. While those early calls did not result in an immediate overhaul of the local transit system, the conversation has returned to the fore as regional populations continue to expand.
Currently, both Geelong and Bendigo are among several cities across Australia looking at light rail as a potential transport solution. Advocates suggest that light rail systems can provide a reliable, high capacity alternative to private motor vehicles and standard bus routes, helping to ease urban congestion.
However, concrete details regarding specific routes, funding models, or timelines for any potential light rail networks in Geelong or Bendigo remain unconfirmed. It is not yet clear how local councils or state authorities plan to address the significant infrastructure costs associated with constructing new light rail lines or upgrading existing tracks.
Watch to see whether local councils in Geelong and Bendigo formally lobby the state government for feasibility funding in the upcoming budget cycle.
This report draws on original reporting by Wire report.
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