Sep 7, 2026 – 4.36pmThe Victorian government has failed to explain why it now expects the Suburban Rail Loop’s first stage to cost almost $4 billion less than Treasury officials advised it would six years ago.Public Transport Minister Vicki Ward announced on Monday that tunnel boring had begun on the Melbourne project, from Burwood to Glen Waverley. A second tunnel boring machine is in the ground and will start excavating a second tunnel in the coming weeks, effectively ending any prospect of Premier Ben Carroll pausing the project before the November 28 state election.Subscribe to gift this articleGift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe.Subscribe nowAlready a subscriber? Fetching latest articles