THE release of two new transport infrastructure reports have highlighted the “many benefits” of extending the Frankston rail line, says the Committee for Greater Frankston.
C4GF, a lobby group, pointed out that two new reports from Rail Futures Institute and Prosper Australia–Chris Hale “strongly back” the proposed rail extension. They said that the institutes’ report “calls for the extension to be built by 2026” and that the PA-Hale report “says nine urgently needed rail projects including the Frankston to Baxter extension can be fast-tracked by using more progressive funding models”.
G4GF Ginevra Hosking said “the rail extension with its many benefits is not guaranteed because extending the line requires both federal and state government support.”
“The federal government has allocated $225 million of funding in the commonwealth budget, about half the estimated cost of an extension to Langwarrin, but the Victorian Labor government has yet to commit to the project. If the Victorian government doesn’t back the project, it cannot go ahead,” she said.
“The extension’s benefits are well understood. It will transform public transport in our region, provide better access to jobs up the line, get cars off congested roads, free up crowded car parks in Frankston’s CBD, and create a metro station at Frankston Hospital and the nearby Monash University Peninsula campus.
“We’re greatly anticipating the release of the state government’s overdue business case for the extension.”
