Melbourne’s public transport authority has set out a ‘blueprint’ for the metropolitan rail network to meet predicted demand over the next 20 years.
The long-term plan includes a programme of operational changes, duplication and extension of the network, new trains and stations, upgrading signalling systems and new maintenance facilities.
The proposed improvements aim to create capacity for an extra 50,000 peak passengers in the next 10 years and an extra 130,000 within the next 20 years
Public Transport Victoria (PTV) chief executive officer Ian Dobbs said: “With train patronage expected to double by 2031, Victoria cannot afford a piecemeal approach to planning and developing projects.
“We need a logical sequence of investment in all areas of the network, not just new tracks. New tracks are just one part of a far more comprehensive picture which is not well understood and seldom talked about in public debate on our rail network.
“I believe this plan represents the most comprehensive strategy for the development of Melbourne’s rail network in more than 40 years.”
