More than 1000 people have signed a parliamentary petition to restore and extend the Cranbourne train line to Kooweerup.
The petition is sponsored by Eastern Victoria MP Renee Heath.
The number of signatures is growing at the time of writing.
The original South Gippsland railway once carried passengers beyond Cranbourne through Clyde and on to Leongatha. Stations beyond Cranbourne wound down in the early 1990s.
The Liberal Party under Jeff Kennett closed the line despite community objections and then proceeded to remove 100’s of kms of rail track beyond Leongatha effectively isolating the communities along this line. The Liberal Party did ensure the line could not be removed between Dandenong and Leongatha, but Ben Carroll as Transport Minister did not protect those communities and agreed to have the rail line lifted to Leongatha selling them out.
Since the closure, local communities have relentlessly advocated for the restoration and extension of the railway line, given the rapid population growth and worsening traffic congestion. The infrastructure is also at the top of Casey Council’s advocacy list.
A business case for the return of freight services to Leongatha was prepared and showed solid returns for an investment in the line. Again Ben Carroll ignored this document which would have ensured the railway line was not dismantled, and supported the removal of $100’s of MILLIONS of $ rail infrastructure.
The petition has been the latest move of the local advocacy.
“Existing bus services are infrequent, unreliable, and lack the capacity to service new estates and outer communities. Many residents are left with no practical alternative to driving,” the petition stated.
“Restoring and extending the Cranbourne to Kooweerup rail line would ease road pressure, provide sustainable transport choices, and deliver critical infrastructure to support the Victorian Government’s housing and growth targets.
“It would reconnect communities, reduce emissions, and improve the quality of life for thousands of families across the region.
“An extension of just fifteen more kilometres is modest, especially when compared to the extensive rebuilds seen across other metro lines as part of level crossing works.”
This might only need to be a single track section with crossing loops at each railway station with a centralised platform. it need not be a multi-billion dollar operation rather something akin to a regional station on the V/Line network.
In the lead-up to the 2018 and 2022 state elections, the Victorian Opposition promised an extension of the Cranbourne line to Clyde, but the pledges fell through after it lost elections.
It should be made clear the line was closed by the Liberal Party under Jeff Kennett. It should also be noted Victrack have not maintained the easement and the line to a minimum rather allowing the assets to fall into disrepair.
More recently, in November 2025, Infrastructure Victoria’s long-term plan again relegated the Clyde extension to a ‘future option’, disappointing locals who have waited more than two decades for improved public transport.
Into 2026, another election year, Casey Residents & Ratepayers Association (CRRA) has called on locals to join it in advocating for a clear pre-election commitment from all major political parties to extend the Cranbourne rail line to Clyde.
It called on locals to sign the parliamentary petition.
City of Casey Deputy Mayor Cr Michelle Crowther has also urged residents to support the petition, sharing the link on Facebook after witnessing Cranbourne Station’s car park full and vehicles spilling onto the vacant grassed block next door on 12 January, a period when many workers are still on leave, and schools remain closed.
“Clyde rail extension is needed to accommodate our ever-growing population, not just helping the Clyde community but all of our Southern Casey residents, who want convenient access to public transport, but instead have to fight for a carpark at Cranbourne Station,” she wrote.
With Cranbourne News
