Rail Futures Institute calls for planning on Metro 2, but not a suburban loop, in 30-year outlook

AN influential rail lobby group has dismissed the Andrews Government’s blue sky plan for an underground suburban rail line, saying these projects would be smarter.

AN influential rail lobby group has talked down the Andrews Government’s plan for a 90km underground ­suburban rail loop, calling for a raft of other projects to be prioritised instead.

The Rail Futures Institute releases its Plan for Melbourne strategy today, detailing major investments over the next 30 years including Melbourne Metro 2 — a fast line for the southeastern suburbs — and a major upgrade of the city’s tram network.

But the policy document has left out the much-touted underground train line proposal in favour of cheaper connections to Melbourne’s outer employment and ­education hubs.

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Last month, the Andrews Government announced that if re-elected, it would put $300 million towards investigating a suburban rail loop to transform the network.

But Rail Futures Institute president John Hearsch said: “Firstly, the government’s proposal will be immensely expensive. And ­secondly, we don’t think it needs to be a heavy rail solution.

“None of the individual destinations on this suburban rail loop will be anything on the scale of the CBD, so you don’t need the same level of heavy rail capacity.

“We believe the same connections could be served with medium-capacity transit that may well include light rail and emerging technology. While these alternatives are expensive, they average about one-third of the cost of heavy rail.”

Mr Hearsch said governments also needed to focus on urgent transport priorities such as a Melbourne Metro 2.

Premier Daniel Andrews announces new trains to be built at Alstom. Picture: Ian Currie

“We’re a bit worried since the government has announced this (suburban rail) scheme that some people might think there is no need for a second tunnel,” he said.

“Metro 2 really needs to follow right on the back of the present project and really needs to be planned right now. The planning involved in all of these is extensive and we’re well behind where we should be.”

The institute has also mapped out plans for a new rail line running from Southern Cross station to Pakenham that would service Chadstone and Monash.

“This second line would take a different route between Caulfield and Dandenong, ­effectively running as an ­express line,” Mr Hearsch said.

“People coming in from Pakenham would save 20 minutes each way.”

Other institute proposals include a massive boost to the size of Melbourne’s tram fleet, with five new routes crossing the CBD.

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