By Violet Li
The Casey community is advocating for the extension of Cranbourne Train Line to Clyde ahead of the May election, labelling the infrastructure project as “urgently needed”.
Clyde Rail link has been a frequently discussed topic within the City of Casey.
The council has been advocating for the project ahead of two Federal elections in 2022 and 2025. In October 2022, the Victorian Liberals announced a $928 million pledge to extend the rail line from Cranbourne to Clyde, contingent on their election.
In March this year, the State’s advisory body Infrastructure Victoria (IV) recommended extending and electrifying the Cranbourne line to Clyde after 2030, including the construction of four new stations: Dandenong South, Cranbourne East, Casey Fields, and Clyde.
At the time of the writing, no major party has come forward to pledge funding for the project.
When asked on 2 April if Labor would fund the Clyde Rail link in this year’s election, Federal Minister for Infrastructure Catherine King said they work with the State government.
“If they bring that to us as a priority, we will work with them in budget cycles to see whether the Commonwealth will invest,” she said.
“But those decisions about whether a rail extension will occur, they are with the Victorian State Government, and we work in partnership with them on new projects.”
Casey Residents & Ratepayers Association vice president Anthony Tassone said the Clyde Rail link was an urgent project, although the IV said it’s not going to be an option in the near future.
“The best time that this project would have been delivered is already, and the next best time to start is today,” he said.
“This train line extension should have already been delivered for the community given our significant population growth.
“Residents are having to travel by car, but sometimes longer than 30 minutes just to get to the Cranbourne Train Station, and there is no guarantee of getting a park when they get there.
“That’s more time getting to and from work and less time with their family and friends.”
Mr Tassone said it was disappointing that no major parties had pledged anything for the rail link.
“To address our housing availability crisis, we need the transport infrastructure,” he said.
“It’s the old saying that is build it and they will come. Here in the City of Casey, they’ve already come, and now we’re trying to build it.”
