Suburban Rail Loop to form new precincts in suburbs

Pathways, trees and undercover bike parking are just some of the features set to transform neighbourhoods built around stations on the Suburban Rail Loop.

Local neighbourhoods built around stations on the Suburban Rail Loop will be reborn with new public transport interchanges, undercover bike parking and 15km of paths.

New designs detailing how the first stage of the mega-project will look above ground at Cheltenham, Burwood and Glen Waverley have been released before a more detailed environment effects statement on Friday.

The documents will be publicly available until December 16 to allow for public feedback and consideration of further design changes before major construction begins.

An artist’s impression of Glen Waverley Station on the Suburban Rail Loop.

Each station on the first leg of the loop will have between 400 and 750 undercover bike parking spaces.

Monash, Burwood and Cheltenham will get new bus interchanges while the 109 tram will have a terminus at Whitehorse Rd, Box Hill.

Across the project, the land around the railway stations will be connected by 15km of walking and cycling paths along with facilities for pick-ups and drop offs.

Suburban Rail Loop Minister Jacinta Allan said about 70,000 passengers would use the first stage of the loop daily when completed.

An artist’s impression of Cheltenham Station on the Suburban Rail Loop.

“With convenient transport connections, new walking and cycling paths and world-class bike storage make it quick and easy for people to get to work, study, health centres and key destinations around Melbourne,” she said.

“As well as delivering ­exceptional transport, SRL stations will be fantastic new public spaces for each community – great places to meet friends, grab a coffee and even do a spot of shopping.”

By 2050, the areas built above the new stations are expected to have twice as much tree coverage as they do now once plants affected by major works are replanted.

An artist’s impression of Burwood station as part of the Suburban Rail Loop.

Work on the project is also expected to help Victoria reach net zero emissions by 2050.

It will reduce cars on local roads, create new “city centres” around job hubs and be powered by renewables.

The first stage of the loop, SRL East, is expected to cost between $30bn and $34.5bn.

It is scheduled to open in 2035 and will connect Cheltenham to Box Hill through an underground train journey of 22 minutes. Construction is expected to start next year, after the EES process.