by Laura Michell
Melbourne’s rail network should be electrified to Melton and new stations built at Mt Atkinson and Thornhill Park, according to Infrastructure Victoria.
Last week, the peak body released its 30-year infrastructure strategy outlining a number of proposals to improve public transport, roads and community facilities across the state.
The strategy stated that the state government should extend metropolitan train services from Sunshine to Melton by electrifying the Melton line by 2030.
The government should also build a station at Thornhill Park (Paynes Road) and Mt Atkinson (Hopkins Road) within the same timeframe to support communities without rail access, the strategy said.
“These places have strong population growth and plans for a metropolitan activity centre, including the new Melton Hospital,” Infrastructure Victoria said.
“The extensions would reduce congestion and travel times on many roads and trains during morning peak hours, including the Western Freeway.
“Our modelling shows that they would result in up to 16,300 more train boardings and around 9000 fewer car trips each day by 2041.”
The electrification of the Melton line was first proposed by the state government in 2018 as part of the Western Rail Plan.
The planning stages of the project were meant to be completed by 2023.
The state government has not provided a timeline for electrification of the Melton line.
Melton council has been calling on the government to implement the Western Rail Plan and build the Thornhill Park and Mt Atkinson stations.
Council said that while Melton train station was being upgraded, modelling it has undertaken has shown this will not be enough to support the expected demand as the population continues to grow over the coming years.
Infrastructure Victoria also recommended the government expand the bus network in the outer suburbs. Among the recommended new services is a bus from Melton to Broadmeadows.
Western Metropolitan MP David Ettershank welcomed Infrastructure Victoria’s recommendation, saying the west needed better public transport.
Mr Ettershank’s Legalise Cannabis Party has been campaigning for better buses for the west.
He said quality public transport was the best way to provide long-term relief to traffic congestion and improve service access in the west.
“Let’s get the west’s public transport sorted – that includes investment in rail and direct and frequent bus services,” he said.
