At precisely this time (7:01am 28th August 2018) the premier Daniel Andrews announced on Facebook that Labor would build a suburban orbital rail loop from Cheltenham to Werribee to link most radial train lines.
What became known as the SRL would dominate the 2018 state election campaign as well as being a major part of the 2022 campaign. Both delivered record majorities for the Andrews government.
What became known as the SRL would dominate the 2018 state election campaign as well as being a major part of the 2022 campaign. Both delivered record majorities for the Andrews government.
Codenamed 'Project Halo' the plan was cooked up by PWC consultants working with the premier's office. Not even the Department of Transport knew it was being formulated. Its Secretary Andrew Bolt resigned shortly afterwards.
The SRL was popular, tapping into a legitimate shortcoming of Melbourne's public transport - that is that non-radial public transport was slow, infrequent and sometimes even missing. And Melbourne's surging population growth combined with low interest rates made now the right time to build something visionary.
The SRL was popular, tapping into a legitimate shortcoming of Melbourne's public transport - that is that non-radial public transport was slow, infrequent and sometimes even missing. And Melbourne's surging population growth combined with low interest rates made now the right time to build something visionary.
Daniel Bowen's write-up here.
Note: This item added retrospectively for posterity.
