The state government has released new details of a proposed underground rail project which would link Werribee and Wyndham Vale stations to the northern and south-eastern suburbs.
The Suburban Rail Loop would be a twin-tunnel, stand-alone line, according to Premier Daniel Andrews and the Minister for Transport Infrastructure Jacinta Allan, who made the announcement last week.
The 90-kilometre rail ring would link Werribee and Wyndham Vale with Sunshine station and the proposed Melbourne Airport station, before travelling on to Broadmeadows, Fawkner, Reservoir, Heidelberg, Box Hill, Glen Waverley, Clayton and Cheltenham, plus proposed new stations in Bundoora, Doncaster, Burwood and Monash.
Mr Andrews said the new rail line, which would accommodate purpose-built trains, would “fully integrate into our public transport network and deliver ‘turn-up-and-go’ services”.
The Age newspaper reported the cost of constructing the Suburban Rail Loop could amount to $50 billion, but Mr Andrews has not yet said exactly what the project would cost.
Pre-construction work on stage one of the Suburban Rail Loop, from Box Hill to Cheltenham, has started, with geotechnical drilling underway.
This article was originally published on www.starweekly.com.au.