Passenger Rail, Research & Development

New tram line planned for Melbourne’s south-east

Melbourne tram. Photo State Government Victoria

The Andrews Government has announced plans for a new tram line to connect Caulfield and Rowville in south-east Melbourne.

Premier Daniel Andrews on Tuesday said $3 million would be in the FY19 Victorian Budget for design and planning works to examine alignments, park and ride options, stop locations, cost and travel time benefits.

The premier said the proposed route would provide a fast, alternative transport option for thousands of Victorians who travel to the area to work, study and shop, and said the line would make it easier to access the rail interchange at Caulfield Station.

Stage one of the proposed line would link Caulfield Station to Monash University’s Clayton campus via Chadstone Shopping Centre, then to Rowville via Waverley Park.

Detailed planning is now underway on the proposed corridor, which would begin near Caulfield Station, stop at Chadstone Shopping Centre and finish near the intersection of Blackburn and Wellington Roads, then extend to Rowville.

Andrews noted the proposed the corridor aligns with the employment hub that houses the Australian Synchrotron, the Monash Medical Centre and the future Victorian Heart Hospital.

“Melbourne’s south-eastern suburbs are growing and a new tram link between Caulfield and Rowville will help ease traffic on some of our busiest roads and get people home faster,” he said.

“This is the missing transport link for the south-eastern suburbs – it will connect some of our most important education, employment and shopping precincts and boost the local economy.”

“This new connection will give hundreds of thousands of Victorians a fast and efficient option to get to work, study or home, and help ease traffic on some of our busiest roads,” transport minister Jacinta Allan added.