The train line between Sunshine and Rockbank should be electrified in the vicinity of 2036 according to a new Infrastructure Victoria report.
The report assessed the impact of more Victorians working from home as a result of the pandemic. It considered where Victorians may live and how they might travel if working from home trends persist well beyond the pandemic recovery period.
Even if working from home continues, the report found there would be significant impacts for Melbourne’s outer municipalities, with traffic congestion likely to persist.
The report said with more people living in outer Melbourne and new growth areas, some workers will drive further when commuting to the office.
It said population growth could increase in the outer suburbs.
“This results in longer car trips on average, compared to our base case,” the report said.
“Morning peak congestion in inner and middle Melbourne is slightly lower…. But morning peak congestion gets worse farther out on most major freeways leading towards inner Melbourne.
“Working from home will not solve road congestion.
“This means overall demand for public transport remains strong in the medium term, even with a shift to working from home.”
The report highlighted a number of road and public transport infrastructure needed to help meet the demand.
It said people looking to live further out, reinforces the need for better transport options in Melbourne’s outer suburbs and new growth areas.
The report calls for the state government to continue to progress the Western Rail Plan, including electrification of the Wyndham Vale line. It urged the development of a business case to extend electrified metropolitan train services from Sunshine to Rockbank by 2031 and for the extention to be constructed by 2036. It also wants the government to consider adding extra stations on the Melton corridor.
Infrastructure Victoria also recommended the state government fund libraries and aquatic centres in growth areas, and build new hospital capacity to cater for demand, especially in Melbourne’s rapidly growing outer northern and western suburbs.
Many of the recommendations have previously been supported by Brimbank and Melton councils.
Brimbank council has been calling for an Integrated Transport Strategy for Melbourne’s west which leverages the strategic position of Sunshine by improving connectivity and access to other priority precincts and activity centres in Wyndham, Melton, Hobsons Bay, Maribyrnong and Moonee Valley.
Mayor Jasmine Nguyen said the council welcomed the report’s recommendations to continue to progress the Western Rail Plan and extend electrified metropolitan train services from Sunshine to Rockbank.
“The report makes clear that while more people will work from home at least some of the time in the future, road congestion will not improve and will in fact worsen in some of the outer areas of Melbourne. This further supports council’s Fix the Calder campaign, to help address some of the congestion issues along that important transport corridor,” she said.
