By Brendan Rees
A desperately needed duplication of the Cranbourne rail line is one step closer after the State Government announced its biggest rail corridor upgrade in the May State Budget.
Under a $572 million project, upgrades to tracks, stations, power and modern signalling will be delivered from the city to Cranbourne and Pakenham.
It will also pave the way for the planning of a Cranbourne line duplication.
Minister for Public Transport Jacinta Allan made the announcement on Friday 27 April, saying it was a “massive investment” with more trains being able to run without clogging up the road network.
“We’re investing more than any government in Victoria’s history to transform our public transport system and get passengers home safer and sooner,” she said.
Together with the Metro Tunnel and new high capacity trains, the works will make room for an additional 234,000 peak passengers every week from Cranbourne, Pakenham and Sunbury.
It comes after the State Government announced to set aside $3 million to buy land for a Cranbourne East Railway Station last December – although date has not been announced as to when this station will be built.
Shadow Minister for Public Transport Shadow David Davis said the State Government needed to provide more rail infrastructure to meet the growing population demand.
“Casey and Cardinia have every reason to be angry. Daniel Andrews and his government have fallen short again not funding the infrastructure required to meet the burgeoning population,” he said.
“The congestion is growing and Daniel Andrews and his government have no idea how to deal with it other than cancelling a road (East West Link) at a cost of $1.3 billion.
Casey Resident and Ratepayers Association president Arvo Talvik welcomed the funding to upgrade the Cranbourne line but it fell short of extending the rail line to Clyde.
“If that’s all they’re doing then they’re severely letting down the Casey public,” he said.
“A one-track-solution would at least things moving and would keep cars away from Cranbourne station which is choc-a-block”
Last week, the Victorian Greens unveiled a $5 billion Melbourne Metro transport plan, calling for the Cranbourne line to be extended to Clyde to accommodate for a rapidly expanding South East.
The plan also involves duplicating the Cranbourne line and building a new station at Cranbourne East.
Victorian Greens MLC for the South Eastern Metropolitan region, Nina Springle said the Clyde rail extension was something that needed to happen by the next term of government.
“These communities are crying out for decent public transport they can rely on,” she said.
“I hear from people in the South East on a daily basis about how urgently they need public transport.”
