AUSTRALIA: The Victorian Government says around A$1 billion of its A$2 billion Suburban Rail Loop savings target has been identified, with further contract awards waiting on a technical review.

Platforms at Box Hill railway station in Melbourne
Box Hill railway station in Melbourne. Illustrative photo. Photo: Thebusofdoom, CC BY-SA 3.0.

The Suburban Rail Loop is a planned orbital rail project for Melbourne. Its first stage, SRL East, is planned as 26 kilometres of twin tunnels and six underground stations between Cheltenham and Box Hill.

About half the headline is identified, the rest is a target

The government says around A$1 billion in immediate scope savings has been identified. An independent technical review has been commissioned to target a further A$1 billion; ABC News reported the review is expected to take three to six months.

The government’s current estimate for the project is A$33.3 billion. About A$32.3 billion is the figure it hopes to reach if the review finds the second tranche.

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What changes for passengers

Underground station interchanges — the points where passengers would change between the new line and existing rail services — will not be built at Box Hill and Glen Waverley. Surface transfers are planned instead. Neither station is being removed from the project.

At Clayton, one station entrance will be built rather than two. Planned pedestrian bridges at Burwood and Cheltenham will not proceed. Parking delivery, a community fund and some future precinct work will also change.

What pauses and what continues

The pause applies to new contract awards, not to work already under way. Contracts already signed are to remain in place; ABC News and Rail Express reported that more than A$14 billion had been signed. Current works continue, and the government says tunnelling remains on schedule, with ABC reporting it is due to begin next month.

The government also plans to move the Suburban Rail Loop Authority into the Victorian Infrastructure Delivery Authority next year.

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