Victorians will be able to get home sooner with more services, better stations and improved public transport routes.
The Victorian Budget 2018/19 continues the Andrews Labor Government’s overhaul of Victoria’s public transport system – delivering safer, more frequent, accessible travel options now, and planning for the growing needs of our suburbs.
In our last three Budgets, the Labor Government has undertaken the biggest public transport overhaul in Victoria’s history. With previous infrastructure investments now close to completion, more train services have been funded to roll out on our new rail tracks.
The Labor Government will invest $103.5 million to purchase another five X’Trapolis trains to meet increasing demand on the metropolitan network and support the delivery of more train services, to be built in Victoria.
Turn-up-and-go services every ten minutes will be extended on the Cranbourne/Pakenham line from 7.00pm to 10.00pm, once every dangerous and congested level crossing between Caulfield and Dandenong is removed.
New train services to Mernda will also be introduced when the rail extension is finished ahead of schedule later this year.
The completion of the Hurstbridge Line Upgrade Stage 1 and the removal of two level crossings will also see the introduction of new peak services, with planning work continuing on the Hurstbridge Line Upgrade Stage 2.
Funding will also be provided to extend bus routes and deliver more services to connect residents in Melbourne’s growing suburbs to train stations, schools, shopping and jobs.
Building on more than $100 million in better bus services already delivered, further investment will see bus service improvements for Bentleigh, St Helena and Greensborough, Werribee, Niddrie, Narre Warren, Victoria Park and between Cranbourne and Carrum Downs.
The Budget paves the way for our next big tranche of transport projects, with the newly established Rail Projects Victoria to complete detailed planning of an airport rail link that unlocks the west and delivers fast rail to Geelong.
The new Sunbury to Cranbourne Pakenham corridor will be transformed as part of the largest rail corridor upgrade in Victoria’s history.
The Budget delivers $571.5 million for power and signalling upgrades from the city to Cranbourne and Pakenham, planning for the duplication of the Cranbourne line and detailed design work to enable new high capacity metro trains to run to Sunbury.
Work will start on improving some of Melbourne’s busiest stations with $16.3 million for accessibility improvements at Essendon and Watergardens stations, and business cases for upgrades to major interchange stations – including Broadmeadows and Pakenham – and for improvements at Seaford and Kananook.
Safety and security initiatives across the Victorian public transport network, including enhanced bus stop safety and new CCTV, will be delivered with a $16.9 million investment.
The Budget provides funding for more than 2,000 new and upgraded carparks to be built at key stations across the network, including Belgrave, Sandown Park, Sunbury, Epping and Craigieburn.
Passengers will soon find it easier to move between trains and trams at South Yarra Station with $12.33 million for a wider station entrance and fully accessible tram stops – the first stage of a new South Yarra Station precinct.
The Budget also delivers on previous investments including removing 50 dangerous and congested level crossings, the Metro Tunnel, bigger trains, the Hurstbridge Line Upgrade and the Mernda Rail Extension.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Public Transport Jacinta Allan
“This Budget continues our overhaul of Victoria’s public transport system, to run more services, more often and get people home safer and sooner.”
“We’re delivering the services passengers need now and building for the future – removing level crossings, ordering new trains and delivering the Metro Tunnel.”
“We’re not wasting a minute to deliver better public transport for every Victorian, wherever you live.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020