Proposed - Victoria Unveils $50 Billion Suburban Rail Project

Victoria Unveils $50 Billion Suburban Rail Project

The Victorian government has released plans for a $50 billion underground rail network, marketing it as the largest public transport project in Australian history.

The "Suburban Rail Loop" will connect every major train line from the Frankston line through to the Werribee line via Melbourne Airport, with up to 12 new underground stations.

The new multi-billion project's aim is to make it easier for commuters to get to the airport, navigate around Melbourne and in between suburbs without having to travel into the city.

Premier Daniel Andrews, who announced the major project on his social media, said the completed project is expected to take thousands of people off existing city-bound trains and remove 200,000 vehicles off roads.

"It’s not good enough to ‘extend’ the congestion, we need a plan that doesn't just force more cars and commuters into the city," Andrews said.

Planning and feasibility work has been undertaken by Development Victoria, PricewaterhouseCoopers, and the Office of Coordinator General over the past 12 months.


Planned stops include Cheltenham, Clayton, Glen Waverley, Box Hill, Doncaster, Bundoora, Heidelberg, Broadmeadows, Melbourne Airport, Sunshine and Werribee.


The Stations
The south-east section will run underground between Cheltenham and Box Hill. New rail tunnels will link the Frankston, Cranbourne-Pakenham, Glen Waverley and Belgrave-Lilydale lines.

The south-east section could include six new underground stations with four underground interchanges on the existing lines, and two potential new stations at the Monash Clayton and Deakin Burwood precincts.

The north-east section will connect the Belgrave Lilydale line to the Hurstbridge, Mernda, Upfield and Craigieburn lines towards Melbourne Airport.

There will be potential new underground stations in Doncaster and La Trobe.

While the western section will connect the Werribee line via the new Sunshine super-hub.


“We'll build an underground suburban rail loop connecting Melbourne's train lines. It will get you where you need to go, wherever you live – and that's what our growing state needs,” Andrews said on his social media.
Labor plans to invest $300 million in a full business case, design, and pre-construction works, if it wins the November 24 state election.

The project will be built over multiple decades with the first sections anticipated to take around 10 years to construct.

Plans to begin construction, projected to create more than 20,000 jobs, is expected to commence by 2022.

 

Having lived in Tokyo & Hong Kong always thought this was needed! In my mid mind I thought an above ground monorail years ago would have connected them.. Anyway I've missed the last 15 years & returning to see residential growth in outer South East is ridiculous.. Last night 3 hrs from docklands to Pakenham.. Tram delayes .. Trains late.. Bus from caulfied . Train again.. Complained to the train staff & they're response.. "its alright.. its only 10 minutes late" .. In Japan someone would be fired for being late.. Anyway likely by the time it's done everyone will be flying drones anyway

 

Seems a good idea on the surface but if it actually goes through infrastructure Vic and is properly assessed current outlook is to be delivered in 40 years time!
I wouldn’t be adjusting your investing plans on an announcement made just before an election.

 

I have an IP at Reservoir but I won't rely on this to be the main capital growth driver. Given the time required to build this I would have already in a Retirement village .....

 

Would love to live to see this happen. I will be an old man by then so won't get to see the benefits.

 

There must be a way to do it in less than 40 years? I don't think many people will even be commuting to work in 40 years. The world will be a very different place.

 

*Insert Face Palm*
This will take 70 years to build and by then their will be minimal need for this type of transport.

- Vehicles will be fully automated and smart enough to avoid congestion.
- Their should be FAR less requirement for anyone to be working in the CBD.
- People can be transported via drones.

I mean what I am saying is basically all possible now. To think where we will be in 20 years let alone how long this will take.
This ***** rips up a billion dollar contract which would have taken far less time to build and is exactly what we needed! And now he wants to build this garbage.

 

Is that part of the previously announced airport line?

 

Given that Avalon is already an international airport, surely it would be easier, faster and cheaper to pop a lightrail between Avalon Airport and Lara train station.

Avalon to Lara by JacM posted 18th Feb, 2019 at 9:41 PM

 

I think it’s a great idea and just what we need but It needs to be fast tracked along with Melb Metro 2 and both completed in no more than 15 years. It is possible.

 

Who would've thought trams would still be in high demand to this day though for example... never know transport needs of the future..

 

Unless they reduce drastically this insane immigration rate, these projects will be overcrowed/useless from day 1 (Melbourne adds 1 million inhabitants every 7 years)

 

True. But when the technology already exists then you can pretty much guarantee it will come to be.

I have zero doubt in my mind that in 50 years time (probably much less) that few people will own cars and they will instead just order one as required. Get picked up and dropped off and charged a small fee..like uber without a driver.

For this to work though we need roads!
Roads are much faster to build and much cheaper.

 

Unless you have to acquire the land, demolish houses, undertake and EIS, put it on exhibition, battle countless court cases in the Land & Environment Court, have a change of government who declares that they won't pay the contractor a cent in liquidated damages for cancelling contracts and still end up with a mess of traffic.

 

Do it with skyrail in 10 years?

 

Nah, why build anything when with a good PR machine you can keep the spin going for a few years.