The Greens have called for planning to begin on a rail tunnel between Melbourne’s South Morang and Werribee lines.
Victoria’s Greens Party recently added the Melbourne Metro 2 proposal to its 2018 state election platform. It detailed its plan in a policy document.
Melbourne Metro 2 was first detailed by Public Transport Victoria in 2013, and was the subject of a 2016 study by KPMG, Arup and Jacobs, on behalf of Infrastructure Victoria.
The Greens are now calling for proper planning for the project to begin immediately.
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A new west-east tunnel would link Newport, on the Werribee Line, to Clifton Hill, on the Mernda Line (formerly the South Morang Line).
Along the way the tunnel would access two new stations at Fishermans Bend, then interchange with existing stations at Southern Cross, Flagstaff and Parkville, and then another new station at Fitzroy North.
At Parkville the new tunnel would connect with the Metro Tunnel, the Melbourne Metro project the Andrews Government is currently building.
The Greens Party says its Melbourne Metro 2 plan also includes high capacity signalling, new metro trains and level crossing removals on the Mernda and Werribee lines.
The party also wants to see the Werribee Line extended to Wyndham Vale.
It also wants a rail extension from Lalor, on the Mernda Line, to Wollert.
Finally, the program of works would free up capacity on the Clifton Hill loop line, facilitating construction of Doncaster Rail – a long-discussed, roughly 10-kilometre rail extension to Doncaster.
“Short term planning and over emphasis on mega road projects has resulted in transport congestion across Melbourne,” the Greens’ policy document states.
“Melbourne Metro 2 is a sustainable alternative to mega road projects like the East West Link, the West Gate Tunnel, and the North East Link by providing residents in Melbourne’s North, West and Fishermans Bend with reliable high capacity metro rail service.”
The Greens say they would provide $100 million immediately to plan the Melbourne Metro 2 program.
The early estimate for the program is between $15 billion and $23 billion over the next ten years.
“The Greens’ plan to transform public transport in Melbourne will be paid for from a combination of re-directing funds from disastrous toll roads, state borrowings, and consolidated revenue.”