The Andrews Labor Government has welcomed the announcement that a Federal Labor Government will partner with Victoria to build the Suburban Rail Loop.
The Suburban Rail Loop is the biggest public transport project in Australian history – a new underground rail network circling Melbourne’s suburbs, to support what will become our nation’s biggest city.
When the Labor Government announced the Suburban Rail Loop, Bill Shorten and his team acted quickly – pledging $300 million to partner with Victoria and get on with planning this vital project.
The announcement today that a Federal Labor Government will be a 50/50 partner in the delivery of the Suburban Rail Loop, recognises the national importance of this project.
Our radial transport network has served Victoria for the last 100 years – but it’s not equipped to serve us for the next hundred as our city and state grows. That’s why we’re building the Suburban Rail Loop.
The Suburban Rail Loop will connect every major train line from the Frankston line all the way to the Werribee line through Melbourne Airport, with up to 12 new underground stations.
It will mean that Victorians will no longer need to travel into the CBD to get where they want to go – changing the way people will move around the city – connecting our suburbs with schools, hospitals and jobs.
The Suburban Rail Loop will slash congestion across the transport network – taking thousands of passengers off existing rail lines and 200,000 cars off major roads – and create 20,000 jobs for Victorians.
Design and planning works are currently underway with work on the first section in Melbourne’s south east (between Cheltenham and Box Hill) expected to begin by the end of 2022.
Quotes attributable to Premier Daniel Andrews
“The Suburban Rail Loop will get people where they want to go – and with a real partner in Canberra, we will be able to get on with this project even faster.”
“Just like the Metro Tunnel, North East Link and vital suburban road upgrades – this is real money for a real project that Victorians voted for and need.”
“For too long, Victoria has put up with Prime Ministers from Sydney who can’t find our state on a map – that will all change with Bill Shorten who is Victorian through and through.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020