More than 80% of Melburnians will experience reduced travel times thanks to the Suburban Rail Loop, which will deliver shorter, faster and more reliable journeys for Victorians while slashing travel times across the state, the state’s Minister for Suburban Rail Loop said today.
Minister Jacinta Allan visited Clayton station today, to reveal new travel time savings modelling for the first stage of this city shaping project.
She said the project would transform the way people commute right across Melbourne with new destinations and connections.
“Whether you’re moving around Melbourne or to and from regional Victoria, Suburban Rail Loop will slash travel times and take more cars off our roads for faster, safer journeys,” said Ms Allan.
“Suburban Rail Loop will open up Melbourne’s middle suburbs, making it easier, faster and more convenient for all Victorians to access our fastest growing employment, health, education and retail centres.”
She said commuters from Clayton would be able to travel in four different directions with direct access to key education, health and jobs precincts.
“Stage One between Cheltenham and Box Hill will be delivered first, and public transport users in Melbourne’s south east will experience much faster journeys on the underground line, saving up to an hour on a one way trip.”
The Minister said return trips to key destinations would be up to two hours faster.
She said commuters from across Melbourne and Victoria would get faster connections to Deakin University in Burwood and Monash University in Clayton as they were connected to the train network for the first time.
The trains will take three to four minutes between stations, and a journey from Cheltenham to Box Hill will be just 22 minutes. Commuters from Cheltenham, will save between 40 minutes to an hour when travelling to either Monash, Glen Waverley or Burwood.
Travel times between Traralgon and Box Hill Hospital will be around 26 minutes faster – taking around two and a half hours instead of three and making train travel times comparable to a car trip.
A trip from Lilydale to Monash University will be between 20 and 40 minutes quicker with a seamless interchange at Box Hill and a trip from Cranbourne to Deakin University will be cut by 20-40 one way.
The Minister said that encouraging more people to shift from their cars to public transport would also have a significant impact on traffic congestion with benefits for all road users, including freight services, trams and buses.
In the longer term, as SRL is connected further north and west, improved traffic flows on freeways and major arterial roads is projected to cut more than five minutes off a drive from Box Hill to the CBD in the morning peak.
Construction of Stage One will start in 2022 with the Initial and Early Works to create up to 800 direct early jobs. Planning and development, as well as community and stakeholder consultation is well underway.
You can visit the Virtual Engagement Room and have your say by visiting: suburbanrailloop.vic.gov.au/Have-Your-Say/Virtual-Engagement-Room
