Suburban Rail Loop to find $2b in savings through station changes

Victorian Premier Ben Carroll is aiming to cut $2 billion from the first leg of the Suburban Rail Loop, hoping to bring the project's cost closer to $32.3 billion. The project, originally budgeted at up to $34.5 billion, will see $1 billion in unnecessary additions eliminated and a further $1 billion in savings identified through an independent technical review.

Premier Carroll emphasized that amenities like overpasses, walkways, and community grants are not essential for building the railway line. The SRL East, connecting Cheltenham and Box Hill, is also set to lose underground interchanges at Box Hill and Glen Waverley, as well as complex pedestrian bridges at Clayton and Burwood. The SRL community projects fund will end, and some future precinct works will be scaled back.

The Suburban Rail Loop Authority will be absorbed by the Victorian Infrastructure Delivery Authority, with the merger expected by mid-next year, potentially impacting hundreds of jobs. The SRLA is currently staffed with over 500 employees, but Premier Carroll assured transparency and effectiveness during the transition. Tunnelling is scheduled to begin next month, which may pose challenges for Opposition Leader Jess Wilson if she were to assume office in November.

The government has not yet disclosed whether the cost-benefit ratio will be affected by these savings. The state government relies on federal funding for the project, with Victoria expecting to receive $6 billion.