Key Facts

• The Suburban Rail Loop is a large underground train line planned to run 90 kilometers across Melbourne, from Cheltenham to Werribee and stopping at Melbourne Airport.
• The federal government will invest an additional $3.8 billion over four years in the project, raising total federal contributions above $6 billion.
• The Victorian state government has committed about $11.8 billion for the first stage, SRL East, a 26 km tunnel section between Cheltenham and Box Hill.
• Construction contracts worth around $13 billion are already signed, including two major tunnelling contracts with a consortium led by John Holland.
• The project was first promised before the 2018 election and has faced criticism over its cost, planning, and the secrecy surrounding its development.
• The 2021 business case estimated the eastern section would cost up to $34.5 billion and be completed by 2035, with around 71,000 daily passengers expected in 2036.
• Victoria’s independent budget office estimated total costs for the first two stages could reach $125 billion by 2085.
• The federal opposition has criticized the funding shift towards the Suburban Rail Loop, claiming it harms other projects like the inland rail.