Labor has promised that trains will run to Mernda again after a 55-year hiatus if it wins November’s state election.
Opposition Leader Daniel Andrews visited South Morang station during the morning peak last Thursday to announce a Labor government would extend the rail line to Mernda within the life of the next parliament.
The plans include an additional station between Mernda and South Morang at a location to be determined in consultation with the community.
It’s estimated the project, involving eight kilometres of new duplicated track from South Morang to Mernda, will cost between $400 million and $600 million.
There will be full grade separations but no new level crossings. Mr Andrews said many aspects of the plan had yet to be finalised.
South Morang and Mernda Rail Alliance spokesman Darren Peters said he thought most residents would be elated at the news.
“Everyone I have spoken to is over the moon,” he said. “As a group of local volunteers we’re really happy we’ve been able to achieve a fantastic opportunity for our community.”
Mr Peters proposed two possible sites for the additional station, either near Marymeade College or Hawkstowe Park.
Public Transport Minister Terry Mulder announced a press conference later on Thursday that led many to believe the state government would follow suit and commit to a rail extension in the short term.
But instead he rubbished Labor’s plans and questioned whether Mr Andrews could be trusted to deliver on the promise.
“I think everyone will remember Labor’s last plan when there was discussion about a rail extension to Mernda and in the dying days of the election they came out with a bus-way,” he said.
“I’d suggest this particular plan still sits in Labor’s bottom drawer.”
But Whittlesea mayor Mary Lalios welcome the announcement and congratulated the community on the role it played in drawing the attention of politicians to Melbourne’s north.
Steam trains began running to Mernda in 1889 on the way to Whittlesea. The station was known as South Yan Yean until 1913, when it was renamed Mernda.
When the line was electrified out to Lalor in 1959, the Mernda line was left to rot.
