MELBOURNE'S SUBURBAN RAIL

The new loop will connect every major train line from the Frankston line through to the Werribee line via Melbourne Airport, with up to 12 new underground stations. Planned stops include Cheltenham, Clayton, Glen Waverley, Box Hill, Doncaster, Bundoora, Heidelberg, Broadmeadows, Melbourne Airport, Sunshine and Werribee.

Premier Daniel Andrews, who announced the major project on his social media, said the completed project is expected to take thousands of people off existing city-bound trains and remove 200,000 vehicles off roads.

"It’s not good enough to ‘extend’ the congestion, we need a plan that doesn't just force more cars and commuters into the city," Andrews said.

Planning and feasibility work has been undertaken by Development Victoria, PricewaterhouseCoopers, and the Office of Coordinator General over the past 12 months.

THE STATIONS

The southeast section will run underground between Cheltenham and Box Hill. New rail tunnels will link the Frankston, Cranbourne-Pakenham, Glen Waverley and Belgrave-Lilydale lines. This section could include six new underground stations with four underground interchanges on the existing lines and two potential new stations at the Monash Clayton and Deakin Burwood precincts.

The northeast section will connect the Belgrave Lilydale line to the Hurstbridge, Mernda, Upfield and Craigieburn lines towards Melbourne Airport, with potential new underground stations in Doncaster and La Trobe.

The western section will connect the Werribee line via the new Sunshine super-hub.

“We'll build an underground suburban rail loop connecting Melbourne's train lines. It will get you where you need to go, wherever you live – and that's what our growing state needs,” Andrews said.

Labor plans to invest $300 million in a full business case, design, and pre-construction works, if it wins the November 24 state election.

The project will be built over multiple decades with the first sections anticipated to take around 10 years to construct.

Plans to begin construction, projected to create more than 20,000 jobs, is expected to commence by 2022.