Derailed project back on line

By GEORGIA WESTGARTH

A REVISED plan by the State government for the $2 to $2.5 billion Cranbourne-Pakenham Rail Corridor Project could be featured in the next state budget.
The project was a part of the Napthine governments controversial ‘unsolicited proposals’ infrastructure strategy, which encouraged the private sector to pitch major projects to the government.
The previous Napthine government signed onto a process with the Rail Transformation Consortium (RTC) to submit a detailed ‘interim offer’ to the government however did not sign a contract with them prior to the November state election.
The RTC recently submitted the new offer to the Andrews government which is currently under review by the Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources.
Minister for Public Transport Jacinta Allan said the interim offer will be carefully assessed.
The proposed upgrade under the Napthine government included level crossing removals at Murrumbeena Road, Clayton Road, Koornang Road and Centre Road as well as 25 high-capacity trains.
The Andrews government are sticking to their election promise and will remove 50 level crossings over the next eight years, including 14 on the Cranbourne-Pakenham line, regardless of the RTC upgrade outcome.