Call for Suburban Rail Loop to be put on hold and Airport Rail Link made the priority

The opposition wants cash redirected from the Suburban Rail Loop to the Airport Rail Link because it will “genuinely benefit every Victorian – not just those in one part of Melbourne”.

The Victorian Opposition has demanded the state government pause the Suburban Rail Loop and put its resources towards preventing feared delays for the Airport Rail Link.

The Liberals and Nationals will on Thursday call for the $34.5bn SRL East, running underground from Cheltenham to Box Hill, to be put on hold without breaking existing contracts.

Funding and resources would instead be directed towards building the railway out to Tullamarine.

It is the second time in 12 months the Coalition has pushed to shelve the project and, during last year’s state election, pledged to redirect its money to the state’s troubled health system.

There are concerns over looming delays for the Melbourne Airport Rail Link. Picture: BigBuild.vic.gov.au

Melbourne’s airport rail is under a cloud after it was included in the federal Government’s review of its infrastructure spending.

The Commonwealth and state have both committed $5bn each to the project and early works were underway before the review was announced.

But speculation is mounting that the process will lead to construction being pushed back by as much as four years.

Despite also receiving federal funding, the SRL has been quarantined from the review on the basis that it was an election commitment.

The Coalition is pushing to shelve the Suburban Rail Loop.

The Coalition will on Thursday argue that the airport rail is the bigger priority.

The state’s net debt is set to hit $171.4bn by 2026-27 and Deputy Opposition Leader David Southwick said this meant there needed to be a focus on projects that were needed most.

“Airport rail is one-third the cost of SRL East, has funding commitments and will genuinely benefit every Victorian – not just those in one part of Melbourne,” he said.

“Recent infrastructure works and delays have exposed decades of under-investment in the rail network across Melbourne’s west.

“These communities deserve a modern rail network and airport rail is the place to start.”

Potential delays to the airport rail project while SRL works ramp up have created tensions within Victorian Labor. MPs and party members have raised concerns internally the move could fuel perceptions Melbourne’s north and west are neglected by the government.

At a recent state conference, the party faithful passed a motion calling on the project to be delivered “as soon as possible” and members warned the project had been heavily spruiked when campaigning.

Last month, the Herald Sun revealed airport rail was expected to now cost $3bn more than estimated in its business case and that state and federal governments had clashed over who would pick up the bill.

This was a key reason why it was sent to the review.

Opposition tourism and events spokesman Sam Groth said the airport rail was also important to Victoria’s reputation internationally.

“Having rail to and from the airport is basic infrastructure in virtually every major city around the world. Victoria’s international reputation and appeal as a tourist destination is being held back while this project remains on pause,” he said. “A train from Cheltenham to Box Hill must not come before a train line to the airport.”