A change to the government’s Plan Melbourne document has been blamed on a swelling population but a key underground rail line that would link Clifton Hill and Newport, and include stations at Fishermans Bend, has been excluded.

The state government has updated its blueprint of Melbourne’s future to include the proposed Suburban Rail Loop.

But a map with key transport upgrades doesn’t include Melbourne Metro 2 or a rail link to the emerging Fishermans Bend residential and jobs precinct.

The government said a change to its 2017 Plan Melbourne document was needed because population growth was running well ahead of ­earlier estimates. It’s now predicted that Melbourne’s current population of 5 million people will swell to 8.4 million by 2051.

Plan Melbourne had originally forecast an extra 10.4 million public transport trips a day by 2050, but the new estimate is an additional 11.8 million trips a day.

“To achieve this, Melbourne needs a huge well-planned investment that enables the city to grow while meeting these transport challenges,” the revised document said.

A map with key transport upgrades doesn’t include Melbourne Metro 2 or a rail link to the emerging Fishermans Bend residential and jobs precinct. Picture: University of MelbourneAn updated map shows a Suburban Rail Loop route, Melbourne Airport Rail and potential for an Avalon Rail Link and Western Rail Plan.

But there is no mention of Melbourne Metro 2, an underground rail line that would link Clifton Hill and Newport and include stations at Fishermans Bend, which eventually might host 80,000 people and tens of thousands of jobs.

Opposition transport spokesman David Davis said Metro 2 and the Fishermans Bend stations had been ditched by Labor in favour of the uncosted Suburban Rail Loop which, he said, had no business case.

“Drawing lines on a map for a $150 billion mirage shouldn’t impress anyone,” he said.

City of Melbourne Greens councillor Rohan Leppert tweeted: “Labor is setting Fishermans Bend up to fail”.