Works commence on massive VIC Suburban Rail Loop project

Construction is now underway on the job-creating Suburban Rail Loop (SRL) – Victoria’s largest infrastructure investment to date. 

The massive transport infrastructure project will not only create jobs but will also provide better public transport as well as connect communities and help bust congestion on local roads for generations to come. 

The Suburban Rail Loop development is going to be delivered in three sections, namely: 

• SRL East – Cheltenham to Box Hill 
• SRL North – Box Hill to Melbourne Airport 
• SRL West – Melbourne Airport to Werribee 

“Work has now started on the Suburban Rail Loop – an iconic project Victorians voted for, and one that will transform the way we move around the state. 

“SRL will create thousands of jobs and connect our suburbs – making it easier, faster and more convenient for all Victorians to access our fastest growing employment, health, education and retail centres,” Premier Daniel Andrews said. 

Following geotechnical investigations that started earlier this year, initial and early works have now commenced on SRL East that runs between Cheltenham and Box Hill. The first phase of works will include laying of a new 630-metre sewer pipe, road modifications, service relocation and preparation of three sites where the tunnel boring machines (TBM) are going to be launched. 

About 10 TBMs are expected to be utilised in carving out the twin tunnels that will link to new underground stations along the rail line. 

SRL East will ultimately link the growing health, education, retail and employment precincts in Melbourne’s east and south east. 

This section of the project will include: 

• Twin 26-kilometre rail tunnels 
• Six new underground stations, including four with interchanges to existing stations at Cheltenham, Clayton, Glen Waverley and Box Hill, as well as new stations at Monash and Burwood 
• A transport super hub at Clayton for regional passengers 
• A train stabling facility and power supply substation at Heatherton 
• An emergency support facility at Mount Waverley, including an intervention and ventilation facility and backup control centre 
• A power supply substation at Burwood 
• A dedicated fleet of new high-tech trains 

Suburban Rail Loop map (source: Victoria's Big Build)

SRL East is the first of three stages of the 90-kilometre orbital loop that will link every major rail line via Melbourne Airport. Once operational, a trip from Cheltenham to Box Hill will only take 22 minutes. 

“We’re thrilled to see construction start – SRL East will connect people across the east and southeast to workplaces, education, health and retail centres, delivering a massive pipeline of new jobs – and we’re getting on with building it,” Minister for Suburban Rail Loop Jacinta Allan said. 

The entire Suburban Rail Loop development is anticipated to support up to 24,000 jobs across the State. SRL East will generate up to 8,000 direct local jobs during its construction, with 800 jobs during the delivery of initial and early works. 

SRL East is due to be completed and operational by 2035 while SRL North is currently in the early planning stages and SRL West still subject to further investigation, planning and development. 

Laing O’Rourke was appointed last year to undertake the first phase of works with a $500 million contract award. In addition, the Victorian Government also announced it will invest $9.3 billion towards the delivery of SRL East. You can read more about it here. 

Source: Premier of Victoria – Media Centre; Victoria’s Big Build – Suburban Rail Loop (1, 2, 3); Engage Victoria; The National Tribune; Roads & Infrastructure Australia