The Government of Victoria in Australia has published a $50bn proposal to build an underground rail loop able to connect all lines in the suburban areas of Melbourne.
The launch of such a service will mean that passengers commuting across the city by train will no longer need to pass through the Central Business District.
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Claimed to be the biggest public transport project so far in Australia, the project will consist of 12 stations, including the one at Tullamarine airport. The project could also include stations at Monash and Doncaster in the eastern part of Melbourne.
Construction of the underground rail project will begin in the second half of 2022 and will complete by 2050.
Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews stated the project development would take a long time, but it is ‘critically important’.
Speaking to Triple M radio station, Andrews added: “Our train system is built at the moment based on everybody wanting to go to and from the city, and that’s just not the way our city and suburbs work.”
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By GlobalData“I won’t finish this project. It’ll take a long time. But if we’re re-elected I’ll be the one who starts it.”
The project will create a loop of the outer suburbs of Melbourne. It will start with Cheltenham suburb in the south-east and link other suburbs, including Glen Waverley and Box Hill in the east and Broadmeadows and Fawkner in the north and another station at the airport.
The project would also see the development of a new 90km track, which would end at Werribee in the west.
According to the government, the new rail line would help to take 200,000 cars off the road and provide service to 400,000 passengers every day.
It will connect with the proposed Melbourne airport rail line, which has received funding commitments from the state and federal governments.
