Melton council has backed a call for the state government to fast-track the long-awaited electrification of the Melton rail line, urging the project to be delivered in full and sooner than projected to meet the needs of Melbourne’s rapidly expanding Western corridor.
Councillors voted in favour of a motion brought forward by Cr Phillip Zada at the Monday 24 November meeting, which called on council to write to Premier Jacinta Allan, Transport and Infrastructure Minister and Minister for Public and Active Transport Gabrielle Williams, Koroit MP Luba Grigorovitch and Melton MP Steve McGhie.
The letter will request the state government to commit funding for the complete delivery of the Melton line electrification, including the construction of the long-promised Thornhill Park and Mount Atkinson stations. Council is also seeking a transparent timeline for the works and wants the projects delivered concurrently with the Sunshine Super Hub upgrade, in line with Infrastructure Victoria’s most recent 2025–2055 strategy.
Melton Mayor Cr Lara Carli said Melton is “in urgent need of additional investment in public transport.”
“Council greatly values the Australian and Victorian Governments’ investment in the planned upgrades to the Vline service, but more is needed, with our modelling showing trains will soon reach capacity, even after this upgrade,” she said.
Mr McGhie said the state government is prioritising upgrades to increase passenger capacity on the Melton line.
“The Alan Labor government is getting on with the upgrade of the Melton line immediately which includes the lengthening of the platforms to run nine carriage trains,” he said.
“We are also getting on with a train stabling yard at Cobblebank and of course the Sunshine Superhub development is fundamental to electrification to Melton. We will have more to say about that at the right time.”
Star Weekly contacted Ms Allan and Ms Williams for comment – instead, a government spokesperson responded.
“Rebuilding Sunshine Station is the first step towards electrifying the Melton Line,” the spokesperson said.
“… we are delivering a pipeline of major projects that will cut congestion for families across Melbourne’s west.”
Giri Khara, volunteer with Mt Atkinson’s Advocacy Forum, said residents haven’t seen any progress.
“A lot of funding has gone to upgrading Melton station. They say it’s been fast-tracked, but we as residents don’t see that happening,” he said.
“The focus for us is electrification and new train stations. What we want to see is Melton line electrification being committed to in the upcoming state election.”
