Wrong Way: Go Back

Outer suburbs have been growing faster than public transport has, for many years. Families in these new suburbs often own three or more cars. The housing might be cheap but the costs of running all those cars could be as expensive as the mortgage.

Extending the rail network to the outer urban growth areas will cut the number of commuters using their cars and reduce congestion on freeways and roads across the city. The government has no plans to build most of these and the South Morang extension will not happen until 2016.

The following rail extension constructions are urgent:

• Epping Line - extension to South Morang/Mernda and a branch extension line to Epping Plaza and Aurora;
• Upfield Line - build a station at Campbellfield and extend the line to Roxburgh Park (Craigieburn Line);
• Craigieburn Line - build a station at Patullos Lane and a branch line to the Airport;
• Cranbourne Line - extend to Cranbourne East;
• Sunbury Line- electrify the track from Sydenham/Watergardens to Sunbury;
• Melton Line - duplicate track and electrify from Sunshine to Melton (and then to Bacchus Marsh!);
• Werribee Line - build new stations at Newport West, Derrimut and Forsyth Road;
• Frankston Line - extend electrification to Baxter;
• Pakenham Line - build a new station at Lakeside and a new branch line from Huntingdale via Monash University to Rowville

To make all this work, the neglected rail network needs to be upgraded across the board. This includes signal upgrading, replacing single track sections with two tracks, provision of express services and changing the way the City Loop works.

For more information, see the Metropolitan Transport Forum’s excellent report: Most Liveable and Best Connected