As part of the deal, it must introduce tap-and-go payments — but already it has fallen behind schedule, with one of the key members of the consortium, Convergint, pulling out due to problems.
The freight rail network was sold off by the Richard Court government in 2000 under a 49-year lease, and is currently being operated by Arc Infrastructure.
Questioned about the status of funding decisions for the two Victorian mega-projects, federal treasurer Jim Chalmers said the government considered them as separate.
