Projects

Client’s challenge: 

V/Line, the statutory authority responsible for Victoria's regional passenger train and coach services, required a comprehensive assessment to quantify the holistic socio-economic benefits its passenger train and coach services deliver to the Victorian economy and society. The primary challenge was to capture these broader impacts to build an evidence base that supports future planning and funding arrangements, including an upcoming Treasury submission.

Our solution:  

Positive Economics Advisory conducted a detailed economic and social impact assessment to quantify V/Line's statewide contribution including:

• Transport network impacts: Quantified the physical road demand displaced by V/Line, including annual reductions in vehicle trips and kilometres travelled across the State.

• User benefits: Quantified the travel time and vehicle operating costs savings generated by V/Line for public transport users and car users.

• Wider economic benefits: Measured the wider economic benefits generated by the rail network, such as agglomeration benefits, increased labour supply, and competition improvement.

• Social value: Examined the unpriced social inclusion benefit of the network in addition to improved regional access to educational facilities and specialist healthcare.

• Economic contribution: Quantified the direct and indirect gross state product (GSP) and full-time equivalent (FTE) employment supported across the Victorian supply chain by V/Line’s operational and capital expenditure.

The analysis is underpinned by the official Victorian Government’s strategic transport model (the Victorian Integrated Transport Model or VITM) – which represents all modes of travel across the State and shows how Victorians get around whether travelling to work, school, the doctor or to get about their daily lives. This project was delivered in collaboration with LUTI Consulting and Clarity Consult.