Building just a portion of the Suburban Rail Loop will cost up to $50 billion – which was the Andrews government’s original estimated price tag for the entire 90-kilometre line when it was announced three years ago.
When he unveiled the project in August 2018, three months before the election, Premier Daniel Andrews said it would cost about $50 billion and be built by 2050. But the investment case now reveals that just two sections of the line in the east and north could cost $50 billion and would be completed until 2053. This excludes the western section of the line from Melbourne Airport to Werribee.
Those sections will cost up to $50.5 billion. The eastern section is set to cost between $30-$34.5 billion over 14 years. The document also revealed the project’s timelines. Early works for the eastern section will start next year and the twin 26-kilometre tunnels will be operational by 2035. Works on the northern leg would start in 2043 and open in 2053.
Ms Allan categorically ruled out taxing residents living along the line – an approach used to help fund the City Loop.
The Old after timer is at it again...
Don't really care if it costs $100 billion! It will be here to stay for the next generation and they will thank us for it. Unlike LNP projects that's way off the scale with their rorts- carparks, airport, jobkeeper to name a few.
Although I’m very much in favour of the big build, I think with climate change we should be building it with sky rail rather than underground. Really high sky rail.
Waste of money
The business case fails to mention the negative impacts on the Heatherton community from the planned industrial train maintenance and stabling yard being built right beside homes and on long planned Green Wedge parkland. Why isn’t that mentioned? Because it’s not “good news”?
Seriously, with the shit DanielAndrewsMP government building a project of this size and complexity, what could possibly go wrong?
If Andrews said this will be $50billion it will likely be $170billion when its done. There is just no way we can justify this when we are already in $200bn+ of debt
A more linked train network is definitely a good thing, but I'd expect more links closer to the city. For instance a link between Alamein and East Malvern seems like an obvious one to do.
A train to the airport. 50 years behind every western country. 30 years behind every developing nation. A delay caused by the corruption and incompetence of numerous ministers and civil servants.
Does anyone really think this is a good public transport plan?
2053 from just cheltenam to the Airport ffs. China built 15000km of high speed rail in 15 years
Dan Andrews doing things right for Victoria. As usual it's the Labor governments that do the building, the Liberals sell it off.
Looks reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaally expensive ! ... and it will probably be late , over budget , with myriad problems , just like the Westgate tunnel . SuburbanRailLoop SpringSt DictatorDan
😂😂😂 well done keeping VicLabour honest… what's the bet the cost blow-outs are over 100% betanyone