1. Inner city
     North–south tunnels  

2. Outer suburbs

3. Western suburbs
     Werribee line    Wyndham Vale line    Melton line  

4. Northern suburbs
     Melbourne Airport line    Albion–Jacana line    Craigieburn line    Upfield line  

5. North-eastern suburbs
     Doncaster line   Mernda line   Hurstbridge line  

6. Eastern suburbs
     Lilydale line    Rowville    Alamein line  

7. South-eastern suburbs
     Frankston and Stony Point line    Pakenham and Cranbourne line  

8. Southern suburbs
     St Kilda line  

9. See also

10. References

11. External links

Proposals for expansion of the Melbourne rail network are commonly presented by political parties, government agencies, industry organisations and public transport advocacy groups. The extensions proposed take a variety of forms: electrification of existing routes to incorporate them into the suburban rail system; reconstruction of former passenger rail lines along pre-existing easements; entirely new routes intended to serve new areas with heavy rail or provide alternative routes in congested areas; or track amplification along existing routes to provide segregation of services. Other proposals are for the construction of new or relocated stations on existing lines, to provide improved access to public transport services.

Inner city

North–south tunnels

• In 2008 The Greens proposed an inner city metro in their transport discussion paper The People Plan. Amongst the proposals were underground rail from Jewell to Melbourne Central with a station at Parkville, railway along a sunken channel between Parkville and a proposed Doncaster line, and underground rail from South Yarra to Southern Cross with stations at King's Domain and Southbank.^[1]
• A 2007 proposal by the State Government involved connecting one of Craigieburn or Sydenham lines through to one of the Caulfield group of lines.^[2][3]

• In 2005, Melbourne City Council proposed an underground rail line, the North South Rail Tunnel Metropolitan, through the inner city. The tunnel would have run from Jewell in Brunswick, and possibly Newmarket through to Windsor station, stopping at new and existing stations near Melbourne University (new), Melbourne Central (existing), Flinders Street (existing) and the Domain Interchange (new) to the south. The proposal also suggested the possibility of linking the Caulfield group of lines to this tunnel.^[4][5]

Variations on the above proposals, among others, were considered and rejected during the preparation of a business case for the Metro Tunnel, which began construction in 2017.^[6]

• A Melbourne Metro 2 project has been proposed that would link the Mernda and Werribee lines via a new tunnel between Clifton Hill and Newport.

Outer suburbs

• In the lead up to the 2018 Victorian election, Premier Daniel Andrews proposed a Suburban Rail Loop, extending {{convert|90|km}} underground from Werribee to Cheltenham, via Sunshine, Melbourne Airport, Broadmeadows, Fawkner, Reservoir, Bundoora, Heidelberg, Doncaster, Box Hill, Burwood, Glen Waverley, Monash University and Clayton. The plan has been costed at $50 billion and would be built in stages, beginning with the Cheltenham to Box Hill component in 2022, with the entire loop to be complete by 2050.^[7]

Western suburbs

Werribee line

• Extension of the Werribee line to meet the Deer Park – West Werribee line at Wyndham Vale was proposed by the Network Development Plan Metropolitan Rail (NDPMR) prepared by Public Transport Victoria (PTV) in 2013. The concept was later included in plans for the Suburban Rail Loop.
• Additional stations have been proposed for the Werribee line at Derrimut Road and Werribee South.^[8]

Wyndham Vale line

• Electrification of the Deer Park – West Werribee line to Wyndham Vale was included in the PTV NDPMR, along with quadruplication to provide express tracks for Geelong services. The state government committed to preparing a business case for the project in 2018.^[9]
• Several additional stations have been proposed for an electrified Wyndham Vale line, at locations including Truganina, Sayers Road, Davis Road and Black Forest Road.^[8]

Melton line

• Electrification of the Ballarat line as far as Melton, as well as provision of express tracks for Ballarat services, was proposed by the PTV NDMPR. The state government committed to preparing a business case for the works in 2018.^[9] Advocacy groups have argued that the electrification should be extended as far as Bacchus Marsh.^[10]

Northern suburbs

Melbourne Airport line

• A variety of proposals for a rail line to Melbourne Airport have been presented since the land was acquired in 1958. A business case prepared by the state government for construction of a dedicated line via Sunshine and the corridor of the Albion-Jacana railway line is due for completion in 2020.^[11]

Albion–Jacana line

• In 2008, the Greens proposed standalone electrification of the Albion-Jacana railway line, with new passenger stations at Sunshine North, Keilor East, Westfield Shoppingtown Airport West and Gowanbrae.^[1]

Craigieburn line

• The PTV Network Development Plan Metropolitan Rail proposed electrification as far as Wallan.

Upfield line

• The construction of a branch line was proposed between Flemington Bridge Station and Pascoe Vale Station in the early 1890s as a means of reducing Melbourne's rising unemployment rate. Three stations were planned, tentatively named Bent Town, Munroville and La Rose.^[12]
• A spur line branching from the Upfield line along the former Inner Circle rail easement to Princes Park, was proposed by the Public Transport Users Association in 1991, primarily as a means of transporting sports fans to the football ground.^[13]
• The PTV NDPMR proposed re-activating the former connection between Upfield and the Craigieburn line at Somerton. Such a project, in conjunction with duplication of the Upfield line, would enable diversion of Seymour and Shepparton services away from the at-capacity Craigieburn line, and provide additional capacity for electrification to Wallan. A business case is expected to be complete in 2019.^[14]

North-eastern suburbs

Doncaster line

• A variety of proposals for railway lines to the suburb of Doncaster have been made since the mid-20th century, although none have commenced construction. The City of Manningham is the only metropolitan Melbourne council area not served by a heavy rail line, and most proposals have envisaged a junction with the Hurstbridge and Mernda lines near Clifton Hill. Public transport advocates have claimed that the most frequently proposed route, along the median of the Eastern Freeway, will be jeopardised by construction of the North East Link, permanently precluding construction of the rail line. However, construction authorities have stated that the reservation will continue to be suitable.^[15]

Mernda line

• A branch from the Mernda line north of Epping to the suburbs of Epping North and Wollert has been proposed since development of the suburbs in the early 2000s. The project was included in the PTV NDPMR, and recommended by Infrastructure Victoria's 2016 report.^[16]

Hurstbridge line

• An extension of the Hurstbridge line to East Reservoir, was proposed in the 1950s as a means of opening up the area east of High Street towards Darebin Creek for residential development. The proposed route was a branch line from Alphington station to East Reservoir. The proposed line consisted of five stations and several bridges which meant that the line would not interfere with any road traffic. The proposed cost was approximately £250,000.{{cn|date=January 2019}}
• A new Eltham North station, between the existing Eltham and Diamond Creek stations, has been proposed to provide improved access for local residents. However, the proposal has been criticised due to its potential to encourage urban sprawl in undeveloped areas.^[17]

Eastern suburbs

Lilydale line

• Extension of the Lilydale line to Coldstream station by re-electrifying part of the closed Healesville line was first proposed in the 1969 Melbourne Transportation Plan.^[18] Yarra Ranges Council provided for a new station and stabling yard in Coldstream with its 2015 precinct structure plan, but cited advice from PTV that the extension was unlikely to occur.^[19]

• An additional station at Cave Hill, between Mooroolbark and Lilydale, has been proposed by Yarra Ranges Council to support residential development in the area.^[20]

Rowville

• A railway line to the suburb of Rowville has been proposed repeatedly since its appearance in the 1969 Melbourne Transportation Plan, and was included in the PTV Network Development Plan. A 2012 feasibility study and a 2016 Infrastructure Victoria report rejected the project as a poor use of funds, but public transport advocates continue to favour a heavy rail line, particularly to serve the nearby Monash University campus. A 2018 proposal by the state government for a light rail service along the route is expected to have a business case complete by 2019.^[21]

Alamein line

• The 1940 Ashworth Improvement Plan identified future works to extend the Alamein line to East Malvern.
• Extending the Alamein line to Oakleigh, along the old Outer Circle line reservation, primarily to serve Chadstone Shopping Centre.^[22]

South-eastern suburbs

Frankston and Stony Point line

• Beaumaris railway line, a 1954 report by the Melbourne and Metropolitan Board of Works proposed a branch line from Moorabbin to Beaumaris, which included four stations, including stations at Bay Road and Cheltenham Road.^[23]
• Extending the Frankston line to Hastings or Baxter by electrifying part of the Stony Point line has been proposed to different extents at different times.^[18][24] A business case for electrification to Baxter is due for completion in 2019.^[25]

Pakenham and Cranbourne line

• The Public Transport Users' Association has proposed re-opening the General Motors railway station which closed in July 2002. Both platforms and the footbridge above the station remain but would require repairs and resurfacing or replacement, while the building and other fixtures would have to be demolished and new facilities built. PTV instead argues that land use in the area does not demand construction of a passenger station.^[26]
• Various proposals have been made to extend the Cranbourne line to Clyde by re-electrifying part of the closed South Gippsland line. Construction on a project to duplicate the Cranbourne line is expected to begin in 2019, with extension to Clyde to follow on its completion.^[27]

Southern suburbs

St Kilda line

Although the St Kilda Line has been converted to light rail operation and is now part of Melbourne's tram network, several proposals for rail extensions existed throughout its working life.

• Various proposals have existed to extend the St Kilda line to Elwood.
  • In 1857, a proposal was brought forward to bring the Gippsland Railway into Melbourne via Elsternwick, Elwood and St Kilda.^[28]
  • In 1882, an Albert Park to Elwood Railway was listed on that year's Railway Construction Bill. Despite general public support, the Elwood line was later deleted as it was felt that the area was already well served by public transport.^[28]
  • During 1884, William Ross developed plans to extend the St Kilda line to his Rosstown Railway via Elwood. Two routes, a Sea Beach and inland Melbourne Extension were proposed.^[28]
  • The 1940 Ashworth Improvement Plan identified future works to extend the St Kilda south easterly to Elwood. These included a tunnel under Fitzroy Street and 3 stations.
• In 1954 the Melbourne and Metropolitan Board of Works released their Planning Scheme for Melbourne which contained a new station on Southbank and a direct route to Spencer Street station.^[29]
• In 1970, the Tewksbury Symposium, a group of Melbourne University academics, proposed a "by-pass" line from the Glen Waverley railway via Caulfield and Elsternwick, to link up with the St Kilda line. The proposal was framed as part of an alternative scheme to the Melbourne Underground Loop.^[30]

See also

• Proposed Melbourne tram extensions
• Rail Projects Victoria

References

External links

• [https://transport.vic.gov.au/our-transport-future/our-projects Current Department of Transport projects]
• [https://bigbuild.vic.gov.au Victoria's Big Build – current Major Transport Infrastructure Authority projects]
• [https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/footer/about-ptv/improvements-and-projects/train-and-rail/ Current Public Transport Victoria projects]

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