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Put Clyde Back on Track: no crossings on Cranbourne line, Labor

CRANBOURNE would be Melbourne’s only crossing-free train line under a $750 million Labor election promise.

Vic premier Daniel Andrews in Dandenong

CRANBOURNE would be Melbourne’s only crossing-free train line under a $750 million Labor election promise.

Labor has pledged to remove the last four level crossings along the line, and duplicate it, if re-elected this month.

But Premier Daniel Andrews stopped short of guaranteeing cash to extend the line to Clyde.

Crossings at Webster St and Greens Rd in Dandenong, Evans Rd, Lyndhurst, and Camms Rd, Cranbourne will get the chop under the plan, it was announced this week.

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The Cranbourne and Lyndhurst crossings will be removed via a road bridge, Webster St by road under rail and Greens Rd with a rail bridge.

Mr Andrews said there would be no property acquisitions to remove the crossings.

If elected, Labor has also committed to duplicate 8km of single track between Dandenong and Cranbourne, to allow for doubling the number of trains during peak times and deliver services every 10 minutes.

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Last Labor set aside $3 million to buy land for a rail station in Cranbourne East and the duplication project includes $7 million to complete planning for a new rail link, which could pave the way to extend the line to Clyde.

More than 240,000 people are expected to live in the Cranbourne East/Clyde area by 2025 and Casey’s population will hit almost 500,000 by 2041.

Since 2015 Cranbourne Leader has been campaigning for the train line to be extended to service the predicted population explosion through its ‘Put Clyde Back on Track’ campaign.

At the start of this year Casey Council joined the push, calling on the major parties to ‘Commit to Casey’ and extend Cranbourne Rail.

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In July, Liberal Leader Matthew Guy said the Opposition had pledged $487 million to build 5km of electrified double line to Clyde if his party wins the election.

Liberal public transport spokesman David Davis this week said Casey was experiencing “substantial growing pains” and needed immediate action.

“Melbourne is jam packed and growing by around 150,000 people a year, and Daniel Andrews is playing politics with vital infrastructure,” Mr Davis said.

Casey Mayor Amanda Stapleton said the council was pleased to see the campaign draw commitments for the Cranbourne line from both sides of politics.

“While more work is needed to accommodate for the substantial population growth in Casey, this is a step in the right direction,” Cr Stapleton said.

“However, promises have come and gone in the past — council will continue to work closely with the community to ensure both sides of politics stick to their word.”

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Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/south-east/put-clyde-back-on-track-no-crossings-on-cranbourne-line-labor/news-story/fa16b8a76ac0a6e63f96de47724925da