LAST week’s state budget had the “glaring omission” of not including any money to extend the metropolitan train line beyond Frankston.
“The federal budget on 11 May retained $225 million for the rail extension – and an additional $19 million for Frankston station car parking – but the Victorian budget was silent on how to address public transport connectivity to and through Frankston, an Infrastructure Australia-listed problem of national significance,” Ginevra Hosking, CEO of the Committee for Greater Frankston, said.
Ms Hosking’s committee will brief Mornington Peninsula Shire councillors in August about the electrification and extension of the railway, possibly into the shire.
Ms Hosking said she understood the new shire council did not want to rubber stamp the previous council’s position on the Frankston rail extension without due consideration and had been asked to speak to councillors.
The shire has previously voiced opposition to the line being extended to Baxter as it would rather see it electrified through to Hastings.
However, despite Hastings being one of the state’s major ports, this is unlikely as a rule of thumb is that metro lines are expected to move 20,000 to 25,000 people an hour when operating at peak. The population of Hastings is 10,400, Somerville 12,000 and Tyabb 3600.
Ms Hosking said the community had been waiting decades for the rail extension with its new station near Monash Peninsula campus and a purpose-built Langwarrin park and ride for commuters.
First published in the Western Port News – 2 June 2021
