six outer-suburban corridors where the need was greatest

The Age believes a paper considered by the committee in early September identified six outer-suburban corridors where the need was greatest: Werribee, Caroline Springs, Craigieburn, Epping, Doreen and Cranbourne/Pakenham.

Mr Batchelor said there had been no major investment in the capacity of the rail network since the City Loop was built in the mid-1980s, but patronage had increased by more than 40 per cent.