Suburban Rail Loop | Project Overview

As Melbourne is a growing city with the expectation of 9 million people by 2025 which is the size of London today. The Victorian State Government looks to expand on the city’s infrastructure by developing a new rail line for easier transportation. This provides the opportunity for Melbourne to grow housing in outer suburbs while providing families with public transportation.

The Suburban Rail Loop project aims to provide better connection between suburbs allowing easier access to locations around Victoria. This means households have access to more employment, hospitals, universities, schools, services and connections between suburbs. Families living in regional areas won’t have to travel through the CBD to reach locations with transport super hubs at Clayton, Broadmeadows and Sunshine.

The project started on the SRL East in Cheltenham to Box Hill in 2022, all 6 station sites have been under development. Planning is now being implemented with the goal to ensure vibrant and thriving communities in outer suburbs.

SRL East and North’s construction and operation are anticipated to cost $216.7 billion between 2019 and 2084. The SRL East and SRL North projects are expected to cost $84.1 billion and $132.5 billion, respectively, according to the Victorian State Government.

The Victorian State Government has ordered 25 X’Trapolis 2.0 trains so far. This initial order is part of a $986 million investment to modernise the Victorian train fleet and begin replacing the aging Comeng trains. While there’s no official word on future orders beyond these 25, it’s possible that more could be commissioned in the future.

• The X’Trapolis 2.0 trains are being developed and built for the SRL in Victoria. The trains will be produced locally to the extent of at least 60%.During mid-2023 Alstom delivered a life size physical mockup of the new X’Trapolis 2.0 train. This mockup was used to gain feedback from a range of Victorians to give them a chance to influence the look and feel of the new train.Rigorous testing is being done on the X’Trapolis 2.0 trains for passenger safety and reliability, this will be tested throughout 2025.

With the goal of linking Melbourne’s most popular suburbs together with limited access to public transport, The Suburban Rail Loop is being developed in 4 main project locations.

• SRL West – Werribee, Sunshine
• SRL Airport – Keilor East, Melbourne Airport
• SRL North – Broadmeadows, Fawkner, Reservoir, Heidelberg, Doncaster
• SRL East – Box Hill, Burwood, Glen Waverley, Monash, Clayton, Cheltenham

SRL East is currently under development with other locations expected to be started at a later date.

The first phase of the Suburban Rail Loop project, known as SRL East, is being built between Cheltenham and Box Hill. It consists of six new underground stations connected by 26 kilometers of twin tunnels. With 70,000 new homes to be constructed in these locations by 2050, this initiative aims to allow the areas to grow.

SRL East Benefits

According to reports, the proposed rail route will shorten travel times and connect public transportation users to the Gippsland corridor, which will connect them to locations around Melbourne, including places of employment, education, healthcare, and retail in the east and south-east.

By 2035, trains will be operational, and SRL East has directly created 8,000 employment.

The proposed SRL North rail line, which will run between Box Hill and Melbourne Airport, is anticipated to ease traffic, speed up public transit, and provide the state of Victoria with better access to jobs and services throughout Melbourne.

SRL North Plan

In order to connect SRL North to Melbourne Airport, seven additional train stations are planned at Heidelberg, Bundoora, Reservoir, Fawkner, Broadmeadows, and Melbourne Airport. The locations of the stations are tentative and will be finalised as SRL North’s planning and development proceed.

Broadmedows is planned to develop into a transportation hub that links trains and regional passengers going in three different directions. facilitating quicker access to locations in Melbourne, especially for those using the Hume corridor. Over half of all passengers on Hume corridor services will interchange at Broadmeadows by 2050, with over 8,500 regional passengers passing through the superhub station daily.

SRL North Benefits

All throughout Melbourne’s middle suburbs, SRL North will give families access to higher education, jobs, and business opportunities. The new rail route will reliably and comfortably cut the time it takes for public transportation to get from Broadmeadows to the airport in half. Convenient and safe luggage compartments will be installed on SRL trains. Travel between regional, interstate, and international markets will also be improved by improved airport links. This will increase regional Victoria’s commercial and tourism potential and open up new options.

Rail Projects Victoria plans to deliver the new SRL Airport project, which will stretch from Melbourne Airport to Sunshine.

SRL Airport Benefits

The first connection between regional Victorians and the metropolitan train network will be made possible by SRL Airport. Without having to change trains, regional families would be able to travel directly to Melbourne Airport from over 30 stops.

Additionally, the project will include the construction of a new station at Keilor East.

To provide quicker and more convenient travel and provide access to employment and services in the middle suburbs, the SRL West project will expand upon the significant road and rail developments already being completed in the west. It will run from Sunshine to Werribee.

SRL West Benefits

SRL West will link individuals to jobs, healthcare, and educational facilities in the west of Melbourne. The Joan Kirner Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Sunshine Hospital, Victoria University, and Sunshine Precinct are all connected by this.

The Sunbury line upgrade and SRL West will both enhance travel by making it easier and faster to go to work, education, and medical facilities.

The Suburban Rail Loop Project is in its early stages, with many unanswered questions as to when plans will be finished for SRL West, SRL Airport and SRL North. Although once the project gains momentum the infrastructure will allow Vicotrian’s to travel through suburbs with less delays, traffic and hassle.

For businesses involved this provides a great opportunity to build jobs and further develop Australia’s sovereign capability. This post will keep you updated with the latest details on the Suburban Rail Loops further progress.