Councils Want SRL “Bussed” Before Rail Is Built

AUSTRALIA: Nine outer-Melbourne councils have a blunt pitch for the Victorian government on its multi-billion-dollar Suburban Rail Loop: run high-frequency buses along the corridor now, and worry about laying the actual rail tracks later.

The Outer Melbourne Councils group, which includes Casey, Cardinia and Wyndham, has urged the government to introduce “turn-up-and-go” bus services along the Cheltenham–Box Hill SRL corridor well before trains begin running, according to the Star Journal group. “We can bus the loop now, and lay the rail later — if the government of the day still wants to,” OMC Chair and Nillumbik Mayor Naomi Joiner said.

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One council staying conspicuously quiet

The proposal lands against a backdrop of political uncertainty: newly installed Premier Ben Carroll has vowed not to break existing SRL contracts while separately naming the Melbourne Airport Rail Link his top transport priority, and removing SRL from a standalone ministerial portfolio. Amid the debate, Greater Dandenong Council — whose area the proposed corridor would pass through — has notably declined to take a position either way, unlike neighbouring councils that have actively lobbied on the issue.

What the councils say buses could do now

OMC argues frequent buses on existing roads could deliver meaningful improvements “at a fraction of the cost” of the rail project, building ridership habits before any tunnels are complete. Legalise Cannabis MP Rachel Payne backed the idea, noting each bus can take roughly 50 cars off the road. The announcement does not specify a cost estimate for the proposed bus network, or whether the government has responded directly to the OMC proposal.

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