An Alternative City Loop Reconfiguration

The City Loop Reconfiguration (CLR)

In the Infrastructure Victoria Major Strategic Program Assessment Report August 2021, section 4.3 the City Loop Reconfiguration(CLR) project was recommended. The CLR involves re-arranging the Northern Loop and Caulfield loop tunnels (after Metro Melbourne 1 (MM1) opens) to create two separate lines: Upfield to Glen Waverley and Craigieburn to Frankston (see below).

Infrastructure Victoria Major Strategic Program Assessment August 2021

The full report can be found here:

https://www.infrastructurevictoria.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Major-Transport-Program-Strategic-Assessment-Report.pdf

Also MetroManMelbourne made an excellent youtube video explaining the project:

https://youtu.be/UzSVB5e4IxQ

I think that the project is exciting but not so much due to the capacity benefits, more due to the potential for simple, easy interchange and cross-city travel. With this in mind, I propose an alternative City Loop Reconfiguration (CLR) titled CLR+. Due to my relative lack of experience in this area I am sure that I have made some oversights, any feedback would be much appreciated.

CLR+ configuration

The proposed CLR+ Upfield line alignment and loop configuration

Design:

1. Move upfield line to new alignment under Royal Parade
2. Connect Upfield line to City Loop Northern and Caulfield tunnels between Flagstaff and Melbourne Central stations
3. Connect upfield line with Frankston line using additional 1.3km tunnel from Parliament to near Richmond station (same as CLR)
4. Connect Craigieburn line to Glen Waverley line via Flinders street and Southern Cross stations (same as CLR but with Glen Waverley line)

Major Works:

• ~4.5km of twin tunnels for new Royal Parade alignment
• New underground station at Melbourne Zoo/Monash Parkville
• New underground station at Parkville with interchange to Melbourne Metro 1(MM1) and track/platform space for future MM2

Key Benefits:

• 3 Level crossings removed (Arden Street, Macaulay Road, Poplar Road)
• Faster Upfield line travel times (~5 minutes faster from Jewell to Melbourne Central)
• Direct connection to Melbourne Metro 1 (MM1) and Melbourne Metro 2 (MM2)
• Redundant 19 Tram can be closed to reduce network operating costs
• Frees up Northern and Caulfield loop platforms at Flagstaff for MM2 meaning minimal additional station construction required
• Can share platforms and investment costs with MM2 project at Parkville station

Comparison of CLR and CLR+ Projects

 

Configuration	CLR	CLR+
Level crossings removed	none	Arden street Macaulay Road Poplar road
Upfield line speed: Jewell to Melb. Central	~7.1km, 6 stops, 13 mins*	~4.5km, 3 stops, <8 minutes*
Upfield line operation costs	unchanged	3 level crossings removed 3 stations removed, 2.6km less track Potential to close redundant 19 Tram line
Works required	1.3km single tunnel: Parliament to Richmond 1km single tunnel: North melbourne to Flagstaff Flyover at North Melbourne station	1.3km single tunnel: Parliament to Richmond 4.5km twin tunnels: Near Jewell to M. Central Underground station at Zoo/Monash Underground station at Parkville (4 track pairs, 2 platforms for future MM2 connection)
MM2 benefits	none	Parkville station constructed Freed platform space at Flagstaff: no additional construction required for MM2

CLR+ Connection to Melbourne Metro 2 (MM2) Project

The MM2 project is a proposed tunnel linking the Werribee line at Newport to the Mernda line at Clifton Hill, with proposed stations at Fisherman’s Bend, Southern Cross, Flagstaff, Parkville, and Fitzroy (see below). This project is also described in the Infrastructure Victoria Major Strategic Program Assessment Report August 2021.

Melbourne Metro 2: Major Strategic Program Assessment Report August 2021

CLR+ and MM2: Map and updated network diagram

Parkville Station

The Parkville station for CLR+ and MM2 could be built with 4 tracks and 2 platforms under Royal parade, potentially allowing cross platform transfer. 

Parkville Station with MM1, MM2, CLR+
and cross-platform transfer (original image)

Flagstaff Station

In the CLR+ design the Northern and Caulfield loop platforms at flagstaff station are unused, leaving space for MM2 and consequently reducing construction costs.

Closure of redundant 19 Tram line with CLR+

The new Upfield line alignment along Royal Parade with CLR+ would make the 19 tram largely redundant (see below). Closing the 19 Tram would reduce operational and maintenance costs and free up resources for other tram lines.

Current Upfield, CLR+ Upfield and 19 tram lines

Effects on existing Upfield line between Jewell and CBD

With the CLR+ project the existing stations Royal Park, Kensington Bridge and Macaulay would be closed. Here the effects are analysed.

Royal Park

The existing station would be replaced with a nearby station near Royal Parade and the Monash Parkville campus. The area would also be served by the 58 Tram.

Effect: positive

Kensington Bridge

The area around the existing station is already served by the 57 and 59 trams. Passengers travelling from Kensington Bridge to the CBD would face longer travel times.

Effect: mildly negative

Macaulay

The area around Macaulay station is served by Kensington station (Craigieburn line), Arden station (MM1) and the 57 tram. The removal of Macaulay station would be problematic for some passengers, but a new tram route through the area has been discussed in the Arden structure plan (https://vpa.vic.gov.au/project/arden/) which would improve connectivity to the CBD and Arden station.

Although in the structure plan an extension from Spencer street is suggested, I believe that a re-alignment of the 57 tram would be the best way to achieve this (see below).

Potential new 57 tram alignments to serve Arden/Macaulay

Two potential alignments are considered:

1. Macaulay road/Boundary road
2. Use the existing Upfield line alignment freed by the CLR+ project

Either of these options would improve access to public transport and remove the duplicated section of the 57 and 59 lines along Flemington road

Conclusion

The proposed CLR+ project offers many benefits over the CLR project proposed by Infrastructure Victoria. Further analysis should be made to determine whether these benefits outweigh the significant extra costs. I would welcome any feedback on this proposal.