Federal Labor says it will electrify and duplicate the rail line between Frankston and Baxter on the Mornington Peninsular sooner than the Coalition if it wins the next election, with shadow transport minister Anthony Albanese making the pitch to reporters on Tuesday.
The project would extend the Frankston Line by eight kilometres, with an electrified twin-track enabling Metro Trains passenger services to run all the way to Baxter via the current Stony Point line.
In July, the Victorian Opposition led by Liberal Matthew Guy joined with the Turnbull Government to commit to providing a combined $450 million for just such a project. The Turnbull Government has allocated $225 million in the 2018/19 Budget.
Albanese, however, said on Tuesday the Budget papers indicate the Turnbull Government funding wouldn’t be delivered soon enough.
“Playing catch up, the Liberals have now put $225 million on the table for the Baxter project, but none of that money is available in 2018-2019. In fact, over 70 percent of the Liberals’ promised funding won’t flow for at least another four years,” Albanese declared.
“Delivery of this project is off in the never-never. Labor will do better.”
Without detailing exactly when Labor would deliver the upgrade by, Albanese said Labor would seek to begin soon after the completion of the project’s business case.
“What we want to do is, once the business case is completed, and that will be completed next year, is make sure that that project is done sooner, rather than later, that it gets the planning right and that will be a catalyst for other activity,” he said.
Currently, thousands of residents from the Dunkley region and Mornington Peninsular have to drive long distances to Frankston, Kananook and Seaford stations to access trains, leaving these station carparks overcrowded.
Public Transport Victoria data from 2009 and 2012 shows 58% of travellers to Frankston Station come from more than 20 minutes away, while 22% come from more than 40 minutes away.
Albanese said that enabling passengers to access trains from Baxter station would take pressure off other stations and enable easier commutes for people living in the wider area.
“Insufficient parking at Frankston Station means the car park is full before 7am, leaving people to scramble for somewhere to leave their car in nearby streets or in parking at Kananook and Seaford stations, which are also over capacity,” he said.
“Federal Labor will build upon our previous investment across this region, as occurred when I last had the privilege of serving as the infrastructure minister in the former Labor Government.”