The state government has committed to fast tracking Sunshine station superhub as part of a public transport blitz.
Premier Jacinta Allan announced on Monday that almost $5 billion will be in this year’s budget to fund the blitz.
The majority of that funding will kick off the first stage of Airport Rail by funding the Sunshine station superhub.
In partnership with the federal government, the state government is building a new transport superhub in Sunshine as the key to delivering Airport Rail and the first step for electrification to Melton.
To fast track the project, the budget allocates $4 billion towards the Sunshine station redevelopment – bringing forward $2 billion of the government’s investment in Airport Rail – to kickstart works as soon as possible.
The redeveloped Sunshine station will be able to support more than 40 metropolitan and regional trains per hour, as well as trains from the Melton and Melbourne Airport lines in future travelling into the Metro Tunnel.
The remaining of the budget funding will help with the switching on the Metro Tunnel and deliver turn-up-and-go service.
Opening this year, an investment of $727 million will operationalise the Metro Tunnel – switching it on and delivering turn-up-and-go services for the Sunbury, Cranbourne and Pakenham lines that run through it.
A further $98.7 million will deliver more frequent services for passengers on other lines, including the Werribee, Craigieburn and Upfield lines.
The boost to train services builds on the more than 2,100 additional weekly services added across the regional and metropolitan train network since 2015.
Premier Jacinta Allan said they’re focused on what matters most.
“People just want to get to work and get home sooner, and I’m on their side.”
Niddrie MP Ben Carroll said building Airport Rail will electrify the north-west, unlocking its true potential and getting families home faster, while Laverton MP Sarah Connelly said Sunshine station will become a superhub delivering more jobs and more train services for the community.
