Editing Stony Point line (section)

=== Baxter extension ===
[[File:Baxter railway station, Melbourne b.jpg|alt=The tired single platform of Baxter station in a rural environment|thumb|[[Baxter railway station|Baxter station]], 2024]]

In 2013, as part of Public Transport Victoria's [[Melbourne Network Development Plan|Network Development Plan]] for metropolitan rail, an extension of the Frankston line to Baxter was earmarked to begin in the "long-term" (over the next 20 years).<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Growing our rail network 2018-2025 |url=https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/footer/legal-and-policies/growing-our-rail-network-2018-2025/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190812025052/https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/footer/legal-and-policies/growing-our-rail-network-2018-2025/ |archive-date=12 August 2019 |access-date=2023-02-06 |website=[[Public Transport Victoria]] |publisher= |language=}}</ref> During the [[2018 Victorian state election|2018 state election]], the [[Liberal Party of Australia (Victorian Division)|Liberal Party]] announced a project to extend electrified services to Baxter.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Tatman |first=Christian |date=26 January 2018 |title=State Liberal leader Matthew Guy supports duplication, electrification of rail line to Baxter |work=[[Herald Sun]] |location=Melbourne |url=https://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/south-east/state-liberal-leader-matthew-guy-supports-duplication-electrification-of-rail-line-to-baxter/news-story/bfafeeea15be68889b16bf725027a6fe |url-status=live |access-date=9 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210216095435/https://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/south-east/state-liberal-leader-matthew-guy-supports-duplication-electrification-of-rail-line-to-baxter/news-story/bfafeeea15be68889b16bf725027a6fe |archive-date=16 February 2021}}</ref> The project would have included the removal of all crossings between Frankston and Baxter, duplication and electrification works, the construction of one (or two) new stations, and the reconstruction of stations along the corridor.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Towell |first=Noel |date=2018-07-16 |title=Guy, Turnbull all aboard the $450 million Baxter rail link |url=https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/guy-turnbull-all-aboard-the-450-million-baxter-rail-link-20180716-p4zrsw.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230206104513/https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/guy-turnbull-all-aboard-the-450-million-baxter-rail-link-20180716-p4zrsw.html |archive-date=6 February 2023 |access-date=2023-02-06 |website=[[The Age]] |language=en |publication-place=Melbourne}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Walker |first=Neil |date=2018-07-23 |title=Liberals' electric plan ends at Baxter |url=https://www.mpnews.com.au/2018/07/24/liberals-electric-plan-ends-at-baxter/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230206102747/https://www.mpnews.com.au/2018/07/24/liberals-electric-plan-ends-at-baxter/ |archive-date=6 February 2023 |access-date=2023-02-06 |website=Mornington News |publisher=Mornington Peninsula News Group |language=en-US |publication-place=}}</ref> The [[Liberal Party of Australia|Federal Liberals]] announced $450 million of joint funding for the project promised between the state and federal governments, with the national government promising to provide $225 million of the funding.<ref name=":4" /> The incumbent [[First Andrews ministry|Andrews Labor government]] argued that the project was not needed, instead prioritising funding to other projects across the state.<ref name=":4" />

A business case commissioned by the government was completed in 2019 with no further progress being made.<ref name=":192" /><ref>{{cite news |last=Cowburn |first=Brodie |date=2019-11-04 |title=Rail extension business case complete |work=The News |publisher=Mornington Peninsula News Group |location=Bayside, Victoria |url=http://baysidenews.com.au/2019/11/04/rail-extension-business-case-complete/ |url-status=live |access-date=2019-11-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191105044223/http://baysidenews.com.au/2019/11/04/rail-extension-business-case-complete/ |archive-date=5 November 2019}}</ref>

Again in the lead up to the [[2022 Victorian state election|2022 state election]], the Liberal opposition supported the electrification to Baxter.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |last=Cowburn |first=Brodie |date=2022-10-10 |title=Promise to pay for Baxter extension |url=https://www.mpnews.com.au/2022/10/10/promise-to-pay-for-baxter-extension/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230206102649/https://www.mpnews.com.au/2022/10/10/promise-to-pay-for-baxter-extension/ |archive-date=6 February 2023 |access-date=2023-02-06 |website=Mornington News |publisher=Mornington Peninsula News Group |language=en-US}}</ref> The [[Second Andrews ministry|second Andrews government]] made no commitments to the Baxter rail extension, instead continuing construction on level crossing removal works along the Frankston line.<ref name=":5" /> The 2022 state election resulted in another Labor victory, with the Andrews government pushing ahead with these works.

In November 2023, a review of infrastructure investment, commissioned by the federal government, found that the Baxter rail extension did not meet the "investment priorities" of the [[Albanese government]] and would lose its $225 million in federal funding.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-11-16 |title=Independent Strategic Review of the IIP - Project changes summary |url=https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/independent-strategic-review-iip-project-changes-summary.pdf#page=6 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231117010912/https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/independent-strategic-review-iip-project-changes-summary.pdf#page=6 |archive-date=17 November 2023 |access-date=2023-12-18 |publisher=[[Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts]] }}</ref>