Update, 1.42pm:
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Bendigo East MP and Minister for Public Transport Jacinta Allan said the suburban rail loop announced this morning would offer more choice for all Victorians.
The loop will connect Melbourne’s suburban rail lines, and link with three new regional hubs at Sunshine, Broadmeadows and Clayton.
Ms Allan said the project would make travel into Melbourne easier for those living in Bendigo and central Victoria.
“Regional Victorians are going to massively benefit from this project, because they too will have more choices about how they access hospital appointments, jobs, in and around the suburbs,” she said.
“The suburban rail loop means Bendigo rail line passengers will be able to interchange at Sunshine and be able to catch the train round to a new station that will be located in that area.”
Premier Daniel Andrews said he expected construction to begin on the first leg of the project by 2022, or earlier. This leg would connect Cheltenham and Box Hill, in Melbourne’s south east, with a regional rail hub at Clayton.
Mr Andrews said the suburban rail loop would “unlock capacity” for regional passengers by connecting the airport rail link with a regional hub at Sunshine.
Rail Revival Alliance Victoria executive Scott Ramsey said while the group endorsed any investment in rail, it wanted to see more money spent on infrastructure in regional Victoria.
“Only four percent of the infrastructure budget is spent regional Victoria which has twenty-five percent of the population and is growing,” Mr Ramsey said.
“It may help regional rail commuters, but more investment has to be made into the regional rail network.”
Liberal candidate for Bendigo East Ian Ellis said the project sounded great for Melbourne, but needed to be properly assessed.
“Regional Victoria has been neglected by this Labor Government,” he said.
“We need urgent attention to things like road maintenance, rail upgrades, or just general infrastructure development and this announcement does not address any of this.”
Update, 11.13am:
Three new regional train hubs will be built at Sunshine, Broadmeadows and Sunshine as part of the Suburban Rail Loop project.
The state government says hubs will provide better access to jobs, education and health outside of Melbourne’s CBD to regional Victorian passengers.
State government graphics suggest Bendigo would connect to the Melbourne Metropolitan rail network through a hub at Sunshine.
It is not clear yet when the regional hubs will be built.
The state government promised to invest $300 million in a full business case, design and pre-construction works.
The first phase of works will begin in Melbourne’s South East.
A state government spokesman says the project is expected to take thousands of passengers off existing rail lines, and 200,000 cars off major roads.
Earlier:
New regional rail interchanges today announced by the state government are said to better connect regional communities with Melbourne’s existing rail network.
It’s part the “biggest public transport project in history”, announced by Premier Daniel Andrews on Tuesday morning.
An underground suburban rail loop will connect Melbourne’s suburban train lines.
The regional rail connections at Sunshine, Broadmeadows and Clayton will connect V/Line trains with existing rail networks, saving commuters a trip into the city.
The line will travel under the northern suburbs towards Tullamarine Airport.
It will connect to the new airport rail link at Broadmeadows where it will connect to the new Melbourne Airport link.
In March 2018 Bendigo East MP and Minister for Public Transport ruled out the option of a rail link connecting Bendigo, Ballarat and Geelong, saying the state government had other regional rail priorities.
More to come.
Elspeth Kernebone
Accident brought me to journalism, but every day convinces me again that strong media is more important than ever. After a starting off as the sole reporter in a tiny NSW town, I’m loving the teeming metropolis that is Bendigo. Focussed on health, business and education. Got a tip? Email elspeth.kernebone@bendigoadvertiser.com.au.
Accident brought me to journalism, but every day convinces me again that strong media is more important than ever. After a starting off as the sole reporter in a tiny NSW town, I’m loving the teeming metropolis that is Bendigo. Focussed on health, business and education. Got a tip? Email elspeth.kernebone@bendigoadvertiser.com.au.
