Peter Khalil and Adam Pulford split on funding cost for Upfield duplication

The leading candidates for the federal seat of Wills and a community group all agree a second track on the Upfield line is needed. But they are split on the cost and timing of the upgrade.

The single track for the Upfield train line begins at Gowrie railway station.

A changing workforce and growing population is behind the need for a Upfield line duplication, according to the Upfield Transport Alliance.

Alliance spokeswoman Sue Bolton said shift workers and people living north of Gowrie Station were in most in need of the upgrade.

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She said it needed to happen earlier than the 15-year minimum wait a 2017 Infrastructure Victoria report recommended.

“This is an absolute necessity so it is ready by the time the Metro Tunnel is built,” the Moreland councillor and Victorian Socialist candidate for the federal seat of Wills said.

An Upfield train heads north.

But Wills incumbent, Labor MP Peter Khalil, said the duplication would need to wait until after the State Government project was completed as extra services would not be possible without it.

“The Metro Tunnel will also pave the way for future duplication of the Upfield line,” he said.

Federal Greens candidate for Wills, Adam Pulford, last month pledged $150 million to add a second track north of Gowrie Station.

But Mr Khalil said that figure was well short and that more than $500 million would be required for the duplication, based on conversations with the State Government.

“I have conversations all the time with the State Government and other stakeholders about infrastructure projects, in order to understand what is required to deliver projects of this scale,” he said.

Mr Pulford told Moreland Leaderthe $150 million “should” cover the duplication.

“We expect the State Government would need to contribute further funds if they’d like to remove additional level crossings or upgrade stations,” he said.

Mr Pulford said he had received his costings from a report created for Brunswick state Greens MP Tim Read.

Mr Khalil announced funding for improvements for cyclists travelling alongside the train on the Upfield bike path last month, promising $500,000 to connect Coburg and Glenroy, should Labor form government at the election.

He also confirmed his commitment of $6 million of funding for the Wheatsheaf Community Hub in Glenroy, which would include a library and health services.