13 May 2022
Construction starts this year
Construction on SRL East will kick off soon, with early works on the project creating up to 800 direct jobs.
Works will include preparing sites for the launch of tunnel boring machines, moving and protecting underground services, undertaking geotechnical investigations, road modifications and improving ground conditions.
The Victorian Government has provided a total of $11.8 billion for Suburban Rail Loop, including $9.3 billion for major construction on SRL East to deliver twin rail tunnels and 6 underground stations between Cheltenham and Box Hill.
Expressions of interest are now open for SRL’s first major works contract to build the tunnels between Cheltenham and Glen Waverley.
Construction on SRL East will kick off this year as geotechnical investigations power ahead.
When major works begin, up to 10 tunnel boring machines (TBMs) will be used to dig the twin tunnels between Cheltenham and Box Hill.
Workers have already clocked up almost 2 million hours. Drilling has been underway at almost 800 sites along with thousands of lab tests, laser surveys, 3D scans and cultural heritage investigations.
The contract for the first phase of works has been awarded to global construction and engineering firm Laing O’Rourke.
SRL will create a massive pipeline of work for Victorians, with construction of SRL East alone creating up to 8000 local jobs.
SRL Community Projects Fund now open
We’re investing in communities along the SRL East rail corridor, with the launch of a new fund to will support community initiatives, big and small.
The SRL Community Projects Fund will mean your neighbourhood or local organisation will enjoy the benefits of Suburban Rail Loop (SRL) long before trains start running on SRL East.
SRL is more than a rail line. It will reshape Melbourne into a ‘city of centres’. Like other major metropolitan cities of the world, there’ll be more jobs in our middle suburbs closer to where people live.
Applications are now invited for the first round of Community Support Grants. Not-for-profits, sports clubs and schools are able to apply for between $10,000 – $80,000 for their exciting local initiatives, with the first grants to be awarded later this year.
Eligible projects could include new and improved parks and playgrounds, community hubs, sports club upgrades and new equipment, or support for community events and festivals.
Several funding rounds will be offered each year during construction of SRL East.
The Community Projects Fund will focus on projects that support and enhance the people and places that will ultimately be served by the transformational rail project across Melbourne’s middle suburbs.
We’re hosting grant writing workshops to support community groups interested in applying.
SRL East EES in full swing
The EES includes detailed information about the SRL East project and its construction, featuring videos, interactive maps and images, as well as technical reports on a wide range of project elements, including traffic and transport, ecology, noise and vibration.
We’re doing everything we can to minimise impacts to the local community during construction, including the impact on trees and the environment.
We’re doubling the canopy of every tree impacted- planting an average of three new trees in its place across the project. This will help create cool and green spaces - and we’ll start planting seedlings and young trees soon after construction starts.
You can view the EES and all of the submissions to the EES on the Engage Victoria website.
Find out more on the SRL East EES page
Convenient connections to other train lines
The stations at Cheltenham, Clayton, Glen Waverley and Box Hill will include fast and convenient connections to existing rail lines.
You won't have to touch off and back on when transferring to and from SRL trains.
Cheltenham
The new station at Cheltenham will connect Frankston line passengers to SRL. An overpass and new bus terminal will connect SRL at Cheltenham to Southland Station and other public transport, making it easier to get around the south east.
Find out more about Cheltenham
Clayton
The station at Clayton will have trains running in 4 directions, connecting passengers from the Pakenham and Cranbourne lines SRL, as well as the VLine service from Gippsland.
We’re currently establishing SRL’s first construction site on Carinish Road, with early works to start in the area shortly.
Monash
Jobs and education opportunities will boom in Monash with an SRL station immediately adjacent to the uni campus. The station will connect Monash University and Melbourne’s largest suburban jobs centre outside the CBD to rail for the first time.
Glen Waverley
Passengers from the Glen Waverley line will be able to connect to SRL at the new station at Glen Waverley.
New walking and cycling links will make this community an even more attractive and vibrant place to live, work and visit.
Find out more about Glen Waverley
Burwood
SRL East will make it more convenient for students and staff at Deakin University to get to campus, with a new station bringing rail to the doorstep of the university.
Box Hill
The station at Box Hill will be one of the busiest on the network, connecting Belgrave and Lilydale line passengers to SRL.
With laser surveys, hundreds of site investigations and local archeological digs complete at Box Hill Gardens, lots of work is underway at Box Hill.
SRL works near you
As we get early works underway on SRL East, you might notice some more activity in your area.
We’re carefully planning the work to minimise disruptions to traffic and the local community, but there may be some unavoidable impacts to roads, including lane closures near you.
We’ll distribute works notifications in the area to keep you informed, but we also encourage you to jump online at Big Build for more information and to receive updates on works near you.
SRL travel time savings
SRL East will deliver faster and more reliable transport connections, slashing travel times and cutting congestion.
Next generation trains will run every 6 mins in the peak – increasing to every 2 minutes – and taking just 3-4 minutes between stations.
A one way public transport trip will be cut by an average of 40 minutes. Public transport users will be able to travel from Cheltenham to Box Hill in just 22 minutes - less than half the time it takes today.
Future university students and staff will save an average of 80 minutes on a return trip from Cheltenham to Monash, while those travelling to Deakin’s Burwood campus from Cheltenham will save up to an hour return every day.
SRL will also deliver faster and more convenient transport for regional Victorians – travel times between Traralgon and Box Hill Hospital will be around 26 minutes faster than a journey today.
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