Early works on the state-shaping Suburban Rail Loop (SRL) are advancing after Victorians backed the project for a second time in Saturday’s state election, following a similarly emphatic endorsement four years earlier.
With trains running by 2035, SRL East will open up access to key education, health and employment centres in Melbourne’s east and south east, relieving pressure on roads and slashing congestion and travel times across the network, as well as supporting up to 24,000 local jobs in the construction phase.
Those jobs were on the ballot paper on Saturday and Victorians overwhelmingly voted for ongoing investment in the transport infrastructure the state needs.
SRL will transform the public transport system, delivering the critical wheel on our hub and spokes train network and changing how people move around Melbourne.
The multi-faceted project will reshape how we grow in the decades ahead – creating major employment centres in the middle suburbs with more housing options, services, and open and public space all a short walk from an SRL train station.
SRL Airport is also underway from Sunshine to Melbourne Airport, delivering a long-awaited rail connection to the airport by 2029.
Early works have been underway in Clayton since June and the next phase of service relocations starts in Glen Waverley in the new year.
Preparatory works will also kick off at Burwood and Monash, and at Box Hill to relocate the 109 tram terminus on Whitehorse Road ahead of construction of the new Box Hill SRL station.
With the next stage of early works beginning in 2023, hundreds of local jobs and a pipeline of opportunities for apprentices, trainees and cadets will start to take shape on one of Victoria’s most important projects.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Suburban Rail Loop Jacinta Allan
“Suburban Rail Loop is a project our city and state needs – and the emphatic election result shows beyond doubt that Victorians want it too.”
“Suburban Rail Loop won’t just transform our public transport system – slashing travel times and easing congestion – it will help manage how our city grows, creating a long pipeline of jobs and training opportunities.”
Reviewed 27 November 2022