Thursday, 28 November 2024

 Anthony CIANFLONE (Pascoe Vale) (17:32): (966) My adjournment matter is to the Minister for Public and Active Transport, and the action I seek is for the minister to provide my community with an update on the investments and future plans to upgrade the Upfield and Craigieburn rail corridors. Works to enhance the Upfield and Craigieburn rail corridors, which have long connected locals to work, education, services and recreation, continue to be an ongoing priority for our growing northern suburbs.

Construction of the rail line to Coburg, now the Upfield line, began in 1882, with the single track opened on 8 September 1884. The line was duplicated and stations at Coburg and Moreland opened in 1888. Batman and Merlynston stations first opened in October 1889, and the extension to Somerton was opened by 1889. The Upfield line of course provides that crucial north–south link. The Craigieburn line, originally known as the Broadmeadows line, commenced construction in 1860, was completed in 1872 and then was extended to Craigieburn from September 2007. Today the line continues to provide another crucial link for my community, stopping at Glenbervie, Strathmore, Pascoe Vale and Oak Park stations.

I am proud to be part of a Victorian Labor government that has continued to invest record amounts since 2014 to improve these respective rail corridors. Firstly, the opening of the Metro rail tunnel from 2025 will relieve congestion and create new capacity within the city loop by rerouting Melbourne’s three busiest train lines – the Sunbury line, the Cranbourne line and Pakenham line – via the new Metro rail tunnel, enabling further service improvements for the Upfield and Craigieburn lines into the future.

When it comes to the Upfield line we have also added more than 50 new weekly services since 2015; removed four dangerous level crossings through Coburg at Moreland Road, Reynard Street, Munro Street and Bell Street; built the new world-class Coburg and Moreland stations; opened the new active transport and open space recreational corridor via Coburg; and committed to a further eight level crossing removals through Brunswick by 2030.

When it comes to the Craigieburn line, we have introduced 104 new weekly services since 2015. Across both the Upfield and Craigieburn lines over coming years we are rolling out the new X’trapolis ‍2.0 trains, proudly built in Ballarat, which will provide capacity for over 1200 passengers. That is 10 per cent more capacity than the current long-serving Comeng fleet, meaning more comfortable and smoother journeys, with dedicated spaces for wheelchairs, prams, mobility needs, bikes and more.

However, these investments, as indicated in my first speech, can continue to be built on by further improving the Craigieburn and Upfield corridors. In this respect I draw the minister’s attention to ongoing opportunities that locals continue to raise with me to improve the lines over coming years, including improved timetabling and more frequent services following the opening of the Metro Tunnel; better peak and off-peak services, especially for the Upfield line; ongoing removal of more level crossings at Devon Road, Gaffney Street in North Coburg and Pascoe Vale, O’Hea Street, Bakers Road and Boundary Road; and the duplication and extension of the Upfield line to the growing outer northern suburbs. I look forward to receiving the minister’s response so I can share it with my community, who are very interested, engaged and passionate on local public transport issues, in due course.