By Kyra Gillespie
Public Transport Minister Jacinta Allan has announced upgrades to the Pakenham line will be included in the 2018-19 State Budget.
Ms Allan revealed on Friday 27 April that $572 million will be tipped into power upgrades and modern signalling from the city to Cranbourne and Pakenham.
A major construction blitz, during which buses will replace trains on sections of the Pakenham line, will take place from 29 May to 17 June to complete the task.
“We’re building the Metro Tunnel, delivering longer trains and getting rid of 17 dangerous and congested level crossings to deliver a new Sunbury to Cranbourne/Pakenham rail corridor,” Ms Allan said.
“We’re investing more than any government in Victoria’s history to transform our public transport system and get passengers home safer and sooner.”
“It will pave the way for more trains, more often.”
Together with the Metro Tunnel and new high capacity trains, the works will make room for an additional 234,000 peak passengers every week from Sunbury, Cranbourne and Pakenham.
She said this work would pave the way for the Cranbourne line duplication.
