Proposed Melbourne Rail Extensions - Status and Future of These Proposals

Status and Future of These Proposals

Many of these proposals were created decades ago, and are no longer seriously being considered by transport authorities. Of these, only the Cardinia Road, Coolaroo, Lynbrook and Williams Landing stations, and the South Morang line extension are mentioned in the current government's 2006 "Meeting Our Transport Challenges" plans.

In the case of South Morang on the Epping Line, both the Department of Transport and the local council have recommended its construction, and development work is being undertaken. This would fulfil a promise by former Premier, Steve Bracks (who retired mid-2007) upon coming to power in 1999. At the subsequent 2002 election this promise was deferred, with the "Trainlink" bus service discussed below introduced instead. Until recently, this project had been sidelined in favour of the extension of the Broadmeadows line to Craigieburn. The main reason for the delay is the capacity problems on the Epping line (and in turn the Hurstbridge line) mainly related to the various sections of single track.

These capacity problems were resolved in part with the duplication of the bridge across Merri Creek, which was opened January 2009. As of mid-2010, the duplication of the 5.3 km of single line from Keon Park to Epping was currently being addressed.

The Cranbourne East proposal has re-emerged in recent years, and a commercial feasibility study conducted by M>Train, former operator of that half of the city's rail system, found that it should be examined as a long-term project.

While some of the other proposals here have also come back into the spotlight in recent years, one which might one day be built is the Rowville line. While the Department of Infrastructure does not appear to be taking this seriously at present, the local council has begun a campaign to demand the construction of the line. Mooted routes are from Glen Waverley, tunnelling under residential areas and along the Dandenong Creek valley, or from the Dandenong line near Huntingdale and following the alignment of North and Wellington Roads.

As a medium-term solution, the government introduced two "Trainlink" bus routes in late 2003. No. 896 serves estates in Cranbourne East and the other, No. 571, is serving Plenty Valley Shopping Centre, Mill Park North, and South Morang. These link to Cranbourne and Epping stations respectively, connecting with each train arrival and departure, seven days a week, from 4:30am to after 1:00am. These have recently received State Government funding to continue until mid-2009.