Promise to revive rail extension

THE Liberal Party has promised to spend $900 million to electrify the rail link from Frankston to Baxter if it wins government.

Opposition leader Peter Dutton made the pledge in Frankston on Friday as part of the campaign by the Liberal Party’s Dunkley by-election candidate, Frankston mayor Nathan Conroy.

The planned electrification and duplication of the Stony Point line from Frankston to Baxter was abandoned by the federal government after an infrastructure review last year.

A business case has estimated it would cost $1.5 billion to electrify and duplicate the train line to Baxter.

Dutton said having diesel trains running on a single line “is just not right”.

“When we give a commitment we deliver on it. We made a promise to fund this project, we are going to fund it, and we are relying on a state government that will see this area as a priority,” he said.

Meanwhile, Frankston Council has made a list of alternative projects which could be paid for by the  $225 million cut from the abandoned rail extension by the federal government.

The Dunkley by-election will be held on 2 March. with the next federal election expected in 2025.