Loading The government is separately planning to build two new electric train lines to Wyndham Vale to help ease chronic overcrowding on trains from the western suburbs, and has said that these tracks could possibly form part of the new line. The geotechnical drilling starting this week would help determine where the underground stations will go and the project alignment, but a full business case still needs to be done before construction officially starts in 2022. Further details about the type of trains to be used, the method of funding for the project, station designs and proof that the project is good value for money still needs to be released. Federal Labor's loss at the May election has delivered a blow to the rail loop's plans, with the Andrews government now forced to go without $300 million to plan the project, which was promised by former Labor leader Bill Shorten but not matched by the federal Coalition government.

Premier Daniel Andrews, who has stumped up $300 million in state money for the project's business case, said he would consider asking the Morrison government for funding soon, but was not optimistic the money would come through. "There are no commitments from the Morrison government to be a partner in this project ... I'm certainly happy to speak to the Commonwealth but I don't have any expectations," Mr Andrews said. "I don't think you can underestimate how much this will change the way this city and state works ... this is the sort of transport infrastructure that our state needs." A spokesman for the federal government confirmed on Tuesday that it had not changed its position on the rail loop.

"We are growing, we're building to cope with the growth, we're taking advantage of that growth by having a big and aggressive school, hospital, road and rail agenda that creates jobs and sets us up for the future. "Of course we are always looking for that balance point, you don't borrow an unlimited amount of money, you borrow within your capacity to repay. Geological drilling has started in Box Hill, which is where one of the Suburban Rail Loop stations will be built. Credit:Simon Schluter "The real cost and the real pressure comes if we don't get this infrastructure built." Rail Projects Victoria's chief executive Evan Tattersall said hundreds of boreholes would be dug for the Suburban Rail Loop to examine the underground geology.

Geological formations known as "Melbourne formation", which is largely made up of mudstone, siltstone and basalt, is difficult to tunnel through, Mr Tattersall said. "The ground is not as stable, it's not as good as other places in the world where you build tunnels. It's all doable, it's just about understanding what's underground so you can plan and design for it."