Greens pledge to put train on track to Rowville

A RAIL line to Rowville would be designed and planned under a $100 million Greens policy to put the project on track, more than half a century after it was first floated.

A RAIL line to Rowville would be designed and planned under a $100 million Greens policy to put the project on track, more than half a century after it was first floated.

The Greens will on Friday release their plan to have the Rowville line “shovel-ready” by 2022, stamping it as a priority for the minor party which hopes to hold the balance of power after next month’s state election.

LABOR’S RIVAL REGIONAL FAST TRAIN PLAN REVEALED

COALITION PLEDGES VLINE FAST TRAIN NETWORK

CONSORTIUM AIMS FOR 20-MINUTE CITY TO AIRPORT LINK

The federal government has put $475 million on the table for a rail link to Monash University, but the Greens say the new line must extend to Rowville, where four out of five residents rely on their cars to get to work.

The Greens will on Friday release their plan to have the Rowville line ‘shovel-ready’ by 2022. Picture: David Crosling

“Governments understood how crucial this rail link was 50 years ago, yet here we are decades later, and nothing has been done,” Greens South East Metropolitan upper house member Nina Springle said.

“More than 50,000 people travel to Monash University every day, and the Monash area already supports 75,000 jobs. It is the second largest area of employment outside of the CBD, and it needs a rail link if we’re serious about reducing congestion.”

Infrastructure Victoria expects the project would cost as much as $10 billion and take five years to build.