By CAM LUCADOU-WELLS
LONG-suffering rail commuters can expect more frequent trains on the Dandenong rail corridor by 2019, according to 2014-’15 State Budget papers released today.
The State Government has allocated $20 million in 2014-’15 towards the $2 billion-plus Cranbourne-Pakenham rail corridor project.
According to budget papers, the government is in “exclusive negotiations” with a private consortium for the public-private partnership project.
“A final binding agreement is expected in the second half of 2014, subject to a positive value for money outcome.”
Construction starts next year and is not expected to finish until 2019, the budget papers state.
The project is expected to deliver 30 per cent more rail capacity on the Cranbourne and Pakenham lines.
It includes 25 new trains, high-capacity signalling and the removal of at least four level crossings.
In other news, the State Government announced $36 million for the Bunurong Memorial Park cemetery master plan and $7.5 million to complete works at Springvale Botanical Cemetery.
Money flowed for existing projects, slated for completion well beyond this year’s election.
* $47 million was allocated towards the $250 million Monash Children’s hospital – expected to be finished in late 2016.
* The $110 million Port of Hastings development receives $30 million in 2014-’15, with $60 million remaining.
* The $156 million Dingley Bypass receives $32.6 million, with the remaining $82 million to come in the next two financial years.
* $3.8 million has been allocated towards the $58 million port-rail shuttle project, which includes the Dandenong South intermodal terminal
