Premier’s bold plan for Victoria’s ‘biggest ever rail project’
AN UNDERGROUND rail network billed as the “biggest public transport project in history” has been announced this morning.
Rohan Smith@ro_smith
news.com.auAUGUST 28, 20189:57AM
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Proposed suburban Rail Loop for Melbourne
VICTORIAN Premier Daniel Andrews has announced a massive new underground suburban rail network covering Melbourne and extending to the airport at a projected cost of more than $50 billion.
The Suburban Rail Loop would link every major train line in Melbourne and carry 400,000 passengers every day.
Essentially, it cuts out the need for commuters travelling from suburban centres through the city before connecting to other lines — a longstanding bugbear for Melburnians.
Plans for the Suburban Rail Loop were made public this morning on Mr Andrews’ Facebook page.
A video outlining the election pledge calls the project “the biggest public transport project in history”.
But don’t expect to climb aboard a new train anytime soon — the government says trains on the proposed line wouldn’t be running before the middle of the century.
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Victoria announces Australia's 'biggest ever rail project'.
Source:Supplied
The loop will link every major rail line from Frankston to Werribee starting near Cheltenham. The government hasn’t yet firmed up exact details but the network is expected to connect stations at Clayton, Monash, Burwood, Glen Waverley, Box Hill, Doncaster, Heidelberg, Bundoora, Reservoir, Fawkner, Broadmeadows, Sunshine, Werribee and Melbourne Airport.
“The suburban rail loop includes connections to major jobs precincts, universities and TAFEs, hospitals and retail centres,” the video explains.
“When complete, it will carry 400,000 passengers a day, taking thousands of people off existing passengers off city-bound trains and 200,000 vehicles off congested roads.”
Mr Andrews did not reveal too much when making the announcement on his Facebook page.
New images of final Metro station designs for Anzac station on St Kilda Road.
Source:Supplied
“We’ll build an underground suburban rail loop connecting Melbourne’s train lines,” he wrote.
“It will get you where you need to go, wherever you live — and that’s what our growing state needs.”
The public response was fast and favourable.
“Mind blown,” one commenter wrote below the announcement.
“About time … we shouldn’t need to travel into the city before we travel to outer suburbs,” another wrote.
Some were sceptical.
“Dan … the pigs flying past the window are screaming ‘Tell ‘em they’re dreaming’. This will never happen,” one wrote.
Another said it was a “great idea” but “kind of seems like a pipe dream”.
Commuters are sick of travelling to the city before connecting to outer suburbs. Picture: Mark Stewart
Source:News Corp Australia
Mr Andrews responded: “This is happening. It won’t be finished overnight, but I promise you this: we will start it.”
Public Transport Minister Jacinta Allan told Melbourne radio station 3AW on Tuesday the project could cost upwards of $50 billion.
When pressed on how long it could take to build, she said it would take “decades”.
“We want to see construction starting by the end of 2022,” Ms Allan said. “We know we need to do the detailed planning.”
3AW breakfast host Neil Mitchell asked whether it would really take 20 or 30 years.
“These big projects take time,” Ms Allan said. “(2050) is not that far off.”
She said the project was required to meet demands of the city’s booming population. It’s expected 8 million people will call Melbourne home by the middle of the century.
The airport rail link fits in with the new proposal.
Source:Supplied
Melburnians told news.com.au this morning they were concerned Mr Andrews was biting off more than he could chew.
“$50 billion for a new suburban train line and we can’t get trains to run reliably or quickly on the North East line to Albury Wodonga?” one reader said. “Well, we know where the priorities are now.”
Another said the project will be the “most expensive white elephant since NBN”.
Public transport is expected to be a major battleground at the state’s November election. Earlier this year, the government revealed futuristic metro station concept designs for the state’s $11 billion Metro Tunnel project.
That project includes new stations at North Melbourne, Parkville, Royal Melbourne Hospital, State Library, Town Hall and Anzac.
Construction is well underway on that project with the Metro Tunnel and it’s new stations expected to open to passengers in 2025.
Opposition leader Matthew Guy has not yet responded to the premier’s proposal.
What do you think of the idea? Let us know: Email [email protected]or find me on Twitter @ro_smith.
