Monash welcomes new travel time estimates for Suburban Rail Loop

L to R: Deakin University Professor Ben Horan, Deakin University Deputy Vice-Chancellor Partnerships, David Halliwell, Suburban Rail Loop Authority EGM Land, Planning, Environment and Sustainability, Lissa van Camp, Monash University Interim Chief Operating Officer and Senior Vice-President, Simon Kupec.

Victorians are set to enjoy faster, more convenient journeys across Melbourne, with new modelling confirming the time-saving benefits of the Suburban Rail Loop (SRL) East – including direct connection to Monash University’s Clayton campus.

Unveiled yesterday by Victorian Premier Hon Jacinta Allan MP and Minister for Suburban Rail Loop Hon Harriet Shing MP, the SRL East Travel Time Estimates report highlights how the transformative project will slash public transport travel times for tens of thousands of people who study and work at Monash – and improve connectivity across the broader Monash Technology Precinct.

Once complete, SRL East will run between Cheltenham and Box Hill, with a dedicated Monash station delivering direct rail access to Victoria’s largest university for the first time.

Key findings from the report include:

  • A student travelling from Bayswater to Monash University will save 15 minutes, arriving in just 37 minutes with a simple change at Box Hill.
  • A lecturer commuting from Coburg will reach the Clayton campus in 64 minutes via the Metro Tunnel, changing at State Library and Clayton stations.
  • Journeys between Cheltenham and Monash will be reduced to just 10 minutes – three times faster than the current 30-minute drive.
  • The line will also improve access for visitors and staff heading to the wider innovation precinct, including the Victorian Heart Hospital, CSIRO, the Australian Synchrotron and the Moderna mRNA vaccine manufacturing facility.

Monash University’s Interim Chief Operating Officer and Senior Vice-President Simon Kupec welcomed the findings, noting the importance of reliable and efficient transport infrastructure to support its students, staff and partners.

“Our students and staff have consistently expressed a preference for train travel to the Clayton campus over driving," Mr Kupec said.

“The SRL will help to address the needs of our students, staff and partners with a fit-for-purpose public service offering.

“The Monash SRL station will support more than just Monash University. The Monash Technology Precinct is the largest employment hub outside of the CBD. Employment activity centres that will be serviced by the Monash station include the Victorian Heart Hospital, the Moderna manufacturing site, CSIRO, the Melbourne Centre for Nanofabrication, the Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Centre and the Australian Synchrotron.

“We are confident that the SRL will significantly enhance connectivity, drive economic and employment growth, and support long-term development for the Monash community.”

SRL East is set to open in 2035, supporting an estimated 70,000 daily trips, easing road congestion and creating up to 8,000 jobs during construction – with more than 3,000 workers already on site.

Premier Jacinta Allan described the project as essential for Victoria’s future.

“As our city and state grow, Suburban Rail Loop is not a nice-to-have, it’s a must-have – it will slash travel times, reduce traffic congestion, get more homes built close to jobs, transport and opportunities and give Victorians more time to do the things they love.”

The SRL East Travel Time Estimates report is available at: suburbanrailloop.vic.gov.au/travel-time-estimates