Bold rail plan gets big tick

TRANSPORT experts have lauded the boldness of a $50 billion suburban Melbourne rail tunnel plan, but say it could cost much more and the detail is too vague.

Premier Daniel Andrews unveiled the 90km suburban rail loop proposal yesterday, with building to start late 2022 and finish by 2051.

It would link Cheltenham to Werribee and connect to the proposed Melbourne Airport rail line, with up to 12 new underground stations and 400,000 people tipped to use it daily. If re-elected in November, a Labor government would tip in $300 million for a proper business case.

Details are yet to be confirmed and the Government will rely heavily on commonwealth funding for it.

Monash University transport engineering expert Graham Currie welcomed the “extremely ambitious” project but said $50 billion seemed a low estimate.

“There are going to be many issues that we need to look at but I’m not going to criticise it for being too bold,” Professor Currie said.

University of Melbourne senior lecturer in transport planning John Stone also said it was “fantastic” to see the Government try to fix public transport, but testing on different options was needed.

Dr Stone said it should go to the independent Infrastructure Victoria for assessment.

Opposition treasury spokesman Michael O’Brien said there was no detail on cost or how it would be funded.