Victoria’s Labor government announces $50bn mega rail

The Victorian government unveils a yet-to-be funded rail network, the biggest transport project in Australian history.

Daniel Andrews announced the mega rail transformation on Facebook. Picture: AAP

Melbourne could become home to Australia’s first New York or Paris-style underground Metro system as part of a $50 billion vision for city and suburban rail, announced today by Victoria’s Andrews government.

In his biggest and most ambitious pre-election pitch to date, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrew unveiled a $50 billion, decades-long plan to create a new, underground train system in Melbourne’s suburbs which connects 10 train lines with one, massive suburban loop.

The mammoth train line including 12 new stations would take decades to build, Mr Andrews said, but would start under a re-elected Labor government and would be finished by subsequent leaders.

The new rail line announced by Daniel Andrews.

Mr Andrews described the landmark railway as a decisive step to combat congestion in Melbourne, which is predicted to become Australia’s most populous city within five years.

He also said it would put the city’s train system on par with the great subway networks of the world.

“This is the sort of rail system that all the great cities of the world are building to take people where they need to go,” Mr Andrews told Triple M radio in an interview this morning.

“Our train system is built at the moment based on everyone wanting to go to and from the city, and that’s just not the way our city and suburbs work.

“People want a public transport system that’ll get them where they need to be.”

The project, which is yet to be funded, will create 20,000 new jobs as well as thousands of new apprenticeship positions.

It adds to the state’s already packed infrastructure agenda, which will see more than $50 billion invested into rail, road and freight networks in the next four years.

“It’s what we need for now and into the future,” Mr Andrews said.

“The congestion will be just horrific if we don’t get on and do something big and bold just like this.”

Mr Andrews said the government would kick start the project with an initial investment of $300 million for a scoping and feasibility study, with construction likely to begin in 2022.

It could take as many as 200,000 cars off the road, he said.

Transport Minister Jacinta Allan told 3AW the project would cost “in the tens of billions” and could be under construction until 2050. Ms Allan said the project would be funded by private, state and Commonwealth money.

The project would connect lines to a number of suburbs, including Clayton, Monash, Glen Waverley and Box Hill and also link up to Tullamarine airport.

“It’s the biggest transport project in Australian history,” the government produced video said.

The new subway system is forecast to transport 400,000 customers and create an estimated 20,000 jobs.

Starting near Cheltenham it will connect the south eastern train lines with potentially up to 12 stations, including at Monash and Box Hill.

More to come