In late August 2018, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews proposed a $50 billion Suburban Rail Loop connecting all major rail lines from east to west via Melbourne Airport. Heralded as the biggest public transport project in Australian history by the state government, the massive project aims to respond to Melbourne’s groaning road and rail system.

Due for completion in 2050, the first round of strategic planning for the Rail Loop was put together by Development Victoria with detailed engineering plans and a business case yet to be completed. In this article, we explore what makes a city-shaping project and whether the suburban rail loop has the potential to transform Melbourne into the city we want.