- Minister for Public Transport
More than one million passengers have used the $600 million Mernda Rail line, nine months on from the extension opening.
Minister for Public Transport Melissa Horne and Member for Yan Yean Danielle Green today visited Mernda station where passenger trains were returned by the Andrews Labor Government last August for the first time in 60 years.
The extension has provided passengers in the Plenty Valley, three more stations, more trains more often and better bus links, with the number of people using the line increasing by nearly 50 per cent since opening.
Passengers travelling from Mernda to the city have access to 982 services every week running every six to eight minutes in the peak, with two new and seven realigned bus routes introduced to coincide with the opening of the rail extension.
The rail extension and Plenty Valley Bus Network have given residents of the growing northern suburbs and surrounding areas, more and easier ways to travel with almost 2,600 passengers using Mernda Station each day and 1,000 trips at both Hawkstowe and Middle Gorge stations
This has meant 5,000 car trips have been diverted from roads each day since the Mernda rail extension opened.
Cycling to train stations, on newly constructed paths is also proving popular with close to 1,000 people using the bike storage facilities at South Morang and the three new stations, with almost 400 of those at Mernda.
Work to improve safety and deliver more trains on the Mernda line is continuing with five level crossing removals and three new stations at Reservoir, Bell and Preston to be completed by the end of 2022.
Planning for the second stage of the Hurstbridge Line Upgrade is also underway with construction expected to begin in early 2020 – delivering more improvements including, a new station and bus interchange at Greensborough, more train services, less crowding on peak trains and better connections.
As noted by Minister for Public Transport Melissa Horne
“Last year we brought passenger trains back to Mernda for the first time in 60 years – one million trips in nine months show this was the right thing to do.”
As noted by Member for Yan Yean Danielle Green
“We’re providing services where they are needed most and changing the way people live, work and travel in Melbourne’s growing northern suburbs.”
