Rachel asked the government if they would ensure funding for the long-overdue Cranbourne train line extension. Commuters from the high-growth suburb Clyde must currently travel to Cranbourne station, which can take up to half-an-hour during peak hour. When they arrive, commuters are hard-pressed to find a spot to park. Locals have long advocated for an extension to the train line, including the resurrection of the once operational Clyde station.
Wednesday 4th of February 2026,
Victorian Legislative Council
Rachel Payne (South-Eastern Metropolitan):
To ask the Minister for the Suburban Rail Loop (for the Minister for Public and Active Transport):
My constituency question is for the Minister for Public and Active Transport. My constituent is a resident of Cranbourne.
He is the vice-president of the Casey Residents and Ratepayers Association, who continue to advocate for the Cranbourne train line extension. The densely populated City of Casey is rapidly growing. Existing infrastructure is inadequate and will not support projected growth.
The combined population of Clyde and Clyde North is predicted to almost triple by 2031. During peak hour Clyde commuters travel up to 30 minutes to Cranbourne station, where the car park is often overflowing. Infrastructure Victoria projected that weekday passenger boardings at Cranbourne station will double in the next five years.
So my constituent asks: will the minister ensure funding for the Cranbourne train line extension?
Written response received, 11th of June 2026:
I thank the member for her question.
The Allan Labor Government is delivering once-in-a-generation investments in new transport infrastructure and services to make it easier for Victorians to get around.
The Metro Tunnel is the biggest transformation of our rail network in 40 years and as part of the 1 February Big Switch timetable change, we added more than 1,000 new weekly services for passengers on the Cranbourne, Pakenham and Sunbury lines – providing a turn-up-and-go train service.
As part of our improvements to transport across the growing south-east, we have also made the Cranbourne and Pakenham lines boom gate free, upgraded Healesville-Koo Wee Rup Road, and delivered the new Pakenham Station and East Pakenham Station.
In the 26-27 Victorian Budget, as part of an investment of almost $100 million into delivering better bus services, we have invested into upgrading bus networks in Casey, leveraging the new Metro Tunnel corridor and better connecting locals to turn-up-and-go train services.
The review and reform will see routes upgraded and extended in growth areas across the region, including Clyde, Botanic Ridge, Casey Fields, Junction Village, Warneet and Devon Meadows – improving connections to key local destinations. This builds on our extension in 2025 of the Route 831 bus from Berwick to Clyde via Bells Road, and the Route 798 extension towards Clyde North via Hardys Road.
DTP continues to review opportunities for further investments in our public transport network, carefully sequenced and prioritised based on several factors such as patronage, safety, accessibility, and site complexities and constraints.
