Prime Minister Anthony Albanese pledges ‘cash boost’ for Suburban Rail Loop in federal budget
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has pledged more funding to the Suburban Rail Loop project in May’s federal budget, as Premier Jacinta Allan unveils the opening date of the Metro Tunnel.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says Victoria’s oft-maligned Suburban Rail Loop (SRL) will receive a cash boost in next year’s federal budget in May.
Mr Albanese made the comments in Melbourne while promoting the early opening of the Metro Tunnel, after Federal Infrastructure Minister Catherine King hinted late last week that more money was coming.
“We of course already have $9.2 billion invested,” he said. “The airport link is part of that project, and there is $5 billion for that, $2 billion for the upgrade of Sunshine Railway Station and $2.2 billion dollars for ongoing work, the early works, there on the eastern section of the suburban rail loop.
“I can confirm today that there will be additional funding in our budget in May for the suburban rail loop so that we can partner with Victoria.
“This is what we need in this great city of Melbourne in order to make sure that we allow people to get around this city easier as well so that we can have affordable housing and increased housing density around rail stations.
“It’s a part of our vision, not just for transport working with Victoria, but also for housing and how we deal with increased housing supply around public transport in particular.”
Pressed on the amount, Mr Albanese wouldn’t be drawn.
“Well, you’ll have to wait and see for the budget,” he said. “We have budgets for a reason.”
“But we’re working in partnership (with Victoria). We have had a range of discussions between the Premier and myself, but also between our Infrastructure Minister, Catherine King, a proud Victorian, and her counterparts.
“That is what Labor governments do and Labor governments at their best work collaboratively with state and national governments in the interests of our people.
“We can confirm that there will be additional money in the budget in May of 2026.”
Ms King told the Financial Review Infrastructure Summit on Thursday that “this is a project that is happening”, hinting that more money may be coming.
The Herald Sun reported in September that the Allan government had formally requested an extra $9.3 billion, seeking a one‑third federal contribution towards the project’s $34.5 billion cost estimate.
Meanwhile, Melbourne’s $15.5bn Metro Tunnel will take passengers from November 30, ahead of the planned December opening.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese joined Premier Jacinta Allan for a ride from Sunshine to the new State Library station on Sunday morning to announce the start date following the green light from the National Rail Safety Regulator.
The long-awaited project will open on a limited basis from the end of the month, with full services due to begin in February.
The limited services will run every 20 minutes between Westall and West Footscray on weekdays between 10am and 3pm. While on weekends, there will also be trains running all the way from East Pakenham every 40 minutes, and all the way from Sunbury every 60 minutes.
Once the full timetable is up and running, trains are expected to run through the new tunnel every three or four minutes during peak hours, between Watergardens and Dandenong.
Between 6am and 9pm, trains will run at least every 10 minutes.
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Originally published as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese pledges ‘cash boost’ for Suburban Rail Loop in federal budget
