Long before contracts were inked to kickstart a new $35bn rail line in Melbourne’s southeast, Jacinta Allan was briefed about how many people would actually be hopping aboard its trains.
Modelling that was provided to Premier Jacinta Allan years’ ago — but kept secret — compared the likely patronage of the $200bn Suburban Rail Loop to existing lines, where passenger numbers are many times higher.
Regional Victorian rents have notched a fresh record after modest price growth over the past year, which experts warn will put more pressure on already stretched affordability outside Melbourne.
Inland Rail is a 1700km rail line intended to link Melbourne and Brisbane via the regions to reduce truck volumes, highway congestion, carbon emissions and to better connect farmers to businesses.
