Daniel Andrews promises trains every 10 minutes after $750m Cranbourne line duplication

THE commute to work on the crowded Cranbourne line is about to get a little bit easier after a major announcement to upgrade the track.

EXCLUSIVE: THE number of peak-period train services to and from Cranbourne will be doubled under a $750 million Andrews Government plan to duplicate track on the crowded line.

The project, to be completed by 2023 if Labor wins the November state election, means trains will run every 10 minutes in the morning and evening rush hours along the whole Cranbourne line, which services Melbourne’s booming outer southeast.

MELBOURNE AIRPORT RAIL LINK LOCKED IN WITH $5B PLEDGE

MATTHEW GUY PROMISES CLYDE RAIL EXTENSION

More than 1000 jobs would be created during two years of construction to duplicate 8km of track, removing bottlenecks which cause frustrating delays beyond Dandenong.

The Sunday Herald Sun can also reveal that Premier Daniel Andrews will today commit $7 million to finish planning the extension of the line from Cranbourne to Clyde.

The state Opposition has promised to extend to Clyde by 2022, but the government ­argues the duplication closer to the city must be done first.

“Our track record speaks for itself — only Labor will give people in Melbourne’s southeast trains every 10 minutes on the Cranbourne line with this massive upgrade,” Mr ­Andrews said last night.

Nine level crossings ­between Caulfield and Dandenong have already been ­removed as part of the controversial $1.6 billion sky rail project to improve the city’s busiest rail corridor.

Premier Daniel Andrews. Picture: Jason Edwards

The government’s decision to duplicate congested sections of the line beyond Dandenong will improve services for commuters in the growing southeastern suburbs.

Tracks will be upgraded around Caulfield station where the Frankston line breaks off, and Dandenong station where the Pakenham and Cranbourne lines separate.

Labor’s Cranbourne candidate Pauline Richards said commuters had been “crying out for this upgrade”.

If the government is re-elected, detailed plans would be developed next year before construction kicks off in 2021.

The Coalition’s Clyde extension project would cost $487 million, adding 5km of track plus new stations at Cranbourne East and Clyde, and more commuter parking.

Opposition Leader Matthew Guy said last month the area was struggling with “substantial population growth pains”, and that extending the line would “bust local congestion” and allow residents to enjoy their lives.

Public Transport Minister Jacinta Allan said the government was already “building the public transport system Victorians need”.

In Melbourne’s outer north, trains return to Mernda today for the first time in almost 60 years, with Metro’s South Morang line extension opening six months ahead of schedule.

[e-mail]

Twitter: @tminear