State official sent overseas to investigate Melbourne suburban rail loop viability

A SENIOR state official has gone overseas to investigate projects similar to the Andrews Government’s proposed suburban rail loop.

A SENIOR state official has gone overseas to investigate projects similar to the Andrews Government’s proposed suburban rail loop.

Development Victoria has done early planning on the $50 billion project that would link every main suburban train line with up to 12 new underground stations by 2051.

The government has pledged $300 million for a full business case if it wins the Nov­ember state election.

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A concept map of the suburban rail loop. Picture: Supplied

It is understood Development Victoria chairman James McKenzie is abroad looking at similar projects.

A spokesman did not give details of Mr McKenzie’s trip, but said he was overseas “examining best practice projects as part of Development Victoria’s ongoing urban renewal and major projects work”.

Big rail projects overseas ­include Britain’s Crossrail, a 118km line with five tunnelled sections being built in London and the counties of Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Essex.

State Treasurer Tim Pallas told an Urban Development Institute of Australia event the rail loop project and other government pledges would be “election winners”.

Mr Pallas said Melbourne’s spoke-and-hub train network needed an overhaul to connect key employment, retail and educational centres.

“There’s this old adage that we don’t get reward for the things that we’ve done, you get licence for what you do next,” he said.

Victorian Treasurer Tim Pallas says the rail loop project and other government pledges will be “election winners”. Picture: AAP/Daniel Pockett

Influential transport lobby group the Rail Futures Institute talked down the government’s plan and called for other projects, including the Metro 2 tunnel linking Clifton Hill with Newport, via the CBD and Fishermans Bend, to be prioritised.

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

It said a major upgrade of the tram network was also needed.

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