Vic premier pushes Abbott on rail funding

Victorian Treasurer Michael O'Brien says the state cannot afford two transport projects at once. Source: AAP

VICTORIAN Premier Denis Napthine is pressing Opposition Leader Tony Abbott to change his mind on funding the Melbourne Metro rail project.

Last week, Mr Abbott maintained that the coalition would not fund urban passenger rail projects like the Melbourne Metro if it wins government in September.

Dr Napthine says he has now spoken directly with Mr Abbott and made his case about why the Commonwealth should help fund the project.

"I emphasised to Tony Abbott, as I do to the prime minister, that our priority for infrastructure is the East-West Link, the Melbourne Metro rail tunnel and the Port of Hastings," he told reporters in Geelong on Thursday.

"We'll be banging on the door of whoever is the prime minister and Infrastructure Australia for federal funding.

"I believe that we can put up a very good case for why those projects are really important for Melbourne and the whole of Victoria, and indeed will benefit Australia."

The rail link would require a nine-kilometre rail tunnel to be built, including five new stops, with the state government already set to spend almost $50 million for planning and preparatory work.

The East-West Link road would connect the Western Ring Road to the Eastern Freeway and likely cost billions of dollars more than the rail link.

State Treasurer Michael O'Brien said Victoria can't afford to build both the road and rail projects simultaneously.

"You probably couldn't afford to have both projects going at exactly the same time on the state balance sheet," he told ABC radio on Thursday.

"The costs of these projects is just enormous."

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