Senator The Hon Bridget McKenzie – Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development, Leader of the Nationals in the Senate
Jason McClintock – Liberal Candidate for McEwen
19 March 2025
An elected Liberal and Nationals Government will support improved public transport services for communities in Melbourne’s north by committing $2 million towards a scoping report to outline the plan and cost estimates of duplicating and extending the Upfield Rail Line to Wallan.
Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development, Senator the Hon Bridget McKenzie, said Melbourne’s north is growing and we need to invest in the infrastructure to support that growth.
“This study to plan for the extension of the Upfield line to Wallan will help ensure investments are made in a way which best supports the community, at the most efficient cost.”
Liberal candidate for McEwen, Jason McClintock, said that there is an urgent need for investment in the region’s transport infrastructure.
“Communities in Beveridge and Kalkallo are crying out for transport investments.
“Anthony Albanese and the Labor Government have ignored the needs of our community by sitting on previous planning studies and failing to grasp the urgency of growth in northern communities.”
“We need immediate investment in roads throughout the area, but we also need to start the process of delivering viable public transport alternatives,” Mr McClintock said.
“I am very pleased to secure this election commitment to support residents and encourage industry growth across Melbourne’s north.”
This study aims to enhance services and passenger experience by focusing on:
– extending and electrifying the Upfield line to Wallan;
– examining new stations at Beveridge and Cloverton, to support the region’s rapid residential, commercial and industrial development;
– duplicating and upgrading the Upfield rail line between Gowrie and Upfield Stations; and
– removing constraints and improving capacity, frequency and reliability for the Upfield and Craigieburn lines.
Melbourne’s northern growth corridor is projected to ultimately be home to 1.5 million people. Key rail investments are needed to critical constraints on train services across the area.
Senator McKenzie said State and Federal Labor Governments have failed to plan for the transport needs of the north, despite the Albanese Government bringing more than a million additional people into the country.
“Only a Coalition government will deliver the infrastructure Wallan, Beveridge, Cloverton, and the surrounding suburbs, to get Melbourne’s north back on track,” Senator McKenzie said
Chair of the Northern Councils Alliance, Cr Helen Davidson said the Northern Councils Alliance (NCA) welcomed today’s announcement by the Coalition for $2 million for the scoping report.
“Melbourne’s north is a region that is growing fast and will ultimately be home to more than 1.5 million people by 2036. The NCA has been calling for key rail investments to resolve the critical contracts of train services in our region. The Upfield Rail Line which services people in Merri-bek and Hume has one of the least frequent peak period services in Melbourne’s rail network and is plagued by delays
and cancellations.”
“Further north, many residents in our growth communities in Mitchell, Whittlesea and Hume are currently only serviced by diesel V/Line services, which are nearing capacity earlier than predicted.
There is also no plan to provide services to the future city of Cloverton,” said Cr Davidson.
“We are very pleased to support this announcement and oversee the scoping report to support future commitments to rail infrastructure for our growing communities in Melbourne’s North.
“This urgent government investment is needed to provide more trains more often and a better experience for every passenger, and to meet the needs of our northern communities,” Cr Davidson said.