Suburban Rail Loop East roars ahead

Second major contract signed to deliver the Suburban Rail Loop (SRL) East tunnels, with the first tunnel boring machines (TBMs) on their way and tunnelling to start in 2026.

We’re making massive progress building SRL East between Cheltenham and Box Hill, with more than 1,500 people working on the project and construction underway at all 6 underground station sites and the train stabling facility.

The second major tunnelling contract has been awarded and TBMs ordered - arriving on site from next year.

Terra Verde – a consortium of WeBuild, GS Engineering and Construction, and Bouygues Construction – will build the northern section of the twin tunnels from Glen Waverley to Box Hill.

The global companies have extensive experience here and overseas, including building the Metro Tunnel Project, North East Link, Sydney Metro and Grand Paris Express.

SRL East has been in construction since June 2022 and crews have made huge progress building TBM launch sites and moving underground services to make way for the new stations and twin tunnels.

Work is now ramping up for the major construction phase – digging the 26km twin tunnels from 2026 and excavating the 6 new stations between Cheltenham and Box Hill.

Trains will be taking passengers in 2035.

More homes for Cheltenham

As Australia's largest housing project, SRL will deliver more homes and housing choice where people want to live – close to jobs, services and world-class public transport.

We’ve been speaking to local communities for several years about how SRL can help meet the challenges of population growth and housing supply. Thousands of Victorians have provided feedback that has been incorporated into ‘Visions’ for the neighbourhoods around the SRL East stations.

The newly released Vision for Cheltenham sets out the ambitions for your community that will guide formal structure planning in 2025.

Take a look inside to see how your input is helping to shape the future of Cheltenham.

Cheltenham community shapes suburb’s future

Our city and state are growing. We need more public transport and more housing – and Suburban Rail Loop will deliver both.

We’re now preparing structure plans for these areas to help cater for growth and realise the full potential of SRL as a city-shaping project.

The feedback of your community, local councils and stakeholders has informed this planning every step of the way. We’ve received many thousands of responses through extensive and ongoing consultation, with more opportunities to have your say coming soon.

The Vision for Cheltenham outlines the long-term aspiration for how the neighbourhood will evolve over the next 20 to 30 years. It will help guide structure planning for the broader area around the new station and ensure it meets your future needs.

We received more than 730 responses from the local community to the Draft Vision which was released in late 2023, and many of these responses have been incorporated into the final Vision.

A draft structure plan along with Planning Scheme Amendments for Cheltenham will go on public exhibition next year, with further opportunities for you to have your say. The structure plan is expected to be finalised in 2026.

Take a look at the Vision for Cheltenham.

How we've adopted your feedback