Only Labor Will Kickstart Upfield Line Duplication

A re-elected Carroll Labor Government will unlock 50 per cent more train services on the Upfield Line – while saving Victorians money and reducing disruption for locals.

The plan is simple: duplicate the line and remove the level crossings at the same time.

Duplicating the Upfield Line

Currently, there is a four-kilometre section of single lane track between Gowrie and Upfield stations that creates a bottleneck and delays for passengers.

In short, it means we can’t run more trains.

Duplicating this section of track will unlock 50 per cent more capacity – and turn up and go services – along the line.

That’s why, if re-elected, Labor will get the job underway.

We will invest $80 million over the next two years to kickstart the duplication of the Upfield Line.

The funding will support necessary development work to:

• undertake site investigations

• finalise the project design

• acquire relevant planning and environmental approvals required to deliver the project

Further development work for the Upfield Line duplication will inform how works should proceed with the planned removal of level crossings along the corridor.

A sensible way to pay for it

We can afford this because we have identified commonsense savings.

We have already removed 96 level crossings. We won’t stop until we have removed all 110 – they all must go.

By delaying the removal of eight level crossings on the Upfield Line, we will save the Budget $686 million.

It means we can then align the level crossing removals with the duplication of the Upfield Line.

Doing it in one go reduces costs and minimises disruption for passengers.

Jess Wilson's Liberal-One Nation Coalition won’t cut congestion and delays.

They will just cut $40 billion from the services we all rely on – including public transport.

Quotes attributable to Premier Ben Carroll

“50 per cent more capacity on the line, for turn up and go services – that’s a huge change for the northern suburbs.”

“Doing it in one go reduces costs and minimises disruption for passengers. It’s commonsense.”

Quotes attributable to Minister for Public Transport Vicki Ward

“We have already removed 96 level crossings. We won’t stop until we have removed all 110 – they all must go.”

“Jess Wilson's Liberal-One Nation Coalition won’t cut congestion and delays. They’ll just cut transport.”

Quote attributable to Member for Pascoe Vale Anthony Cianflone

“Duplicating the Upfield Line will unlock 50 per cent more train services for my community.”

Quote attributable to Labor Candidate for Brunswick Gabe Steger

“It makes sense to duplicate the line and remove the level crossings at the same time.”

Quote attributable to Member for Broadmeadows Kathleen Matthews-Ward

“Only Labor will duplicate the Upfield Line and deliver better services to Fawkner, Campbellfield, Dallas, Hadfield and Glenroy.”

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