Australia’s Victorian government has pledged $30 million for the first phase of a project to standardise freight lines in the north of the state.
Premier Daniel Andrews said that $5 million would be made available in this financial year to allow preliminary works to be carried out on the Murray Basin Rail Project.
The project will involve the conversion of the broad gauge Mildura line to standard gauge and upgrading the line cope with 21-tonne axle loads.
A business case for the next stages of the project is currently being drawn up.
In a statement, Minister for Public Transport Jacinta Allan said: “By fixing this ramshackle rail line, we’re helping some of our biggest industries stay competitive.”
