Train projects and programs

The State Government is continuing to develop and enhance the passenger rail network in both Melbourne and regional centres.

Information on this page

• Latest news
• In Melbourne
• In Regional Victoria
• Media releases

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Latest news

• Changes to the rail timetable: In November 2008, the Government will deliver at least 95 new services on the metropolitan rail network.

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In Melbourne
A full list of current, future and completed projects on the Melbourne passenger rail network is available:

• Metropolitan rail network improvements
• Metropolitan railway station projects
• New metropolitan railway stations

Other initiatives announced as part of Meeting Our Transport Challenges

• $800 million has been committed for new trains on the metropolitan and regional networks. The first 18 of these trains will be delivered from late 2009 - see New and refurbished trains and trams.

• Over a ten year period, $97.1 million will be spent to provide more services and longer hours of operation for metropolitan rail services. This includes:
  • the introduction of more than 200 new weekly services in 2008-09 as part of a three step plan. The first 105 new services were introduced from 27 April 2008. A further 95 weekly services will begin in November 2008 as part of Stage 2. Extra off-peak services will be introduced by mid-2009
  • the introduction of 39 new services on the Broadmeadows, Sandringham, Werribee, Dandenong/Cranbourne and Hurstbridge lines from October 2007 as part of a new metropolitan timetable
  • the introduction of late night train services in Melbourne on Friday and Saturday nights from 20 October 2006
  • an extra 30 Authorised Officers that have been hired to improve safety for passengers.
• $15.4 million will be provided to train an extra 180 train drivers. This program is in addition to the 95 new drivers that are being introduced to the network by Connex as part of current driver training programs to minimise the chances of driver shortages. Funding for the first 22 of the new drivers was provided in the 2007-08 State Budget.

See also:

• Craigieburn Rail Project
• Clifton Hill Rail Project
• Dandenong Rail Corridor Project
• Laverton Rail Upgrade
• North Melbourne Railway Station upgrade
• South Morang rail extension
• Westall Rail Upgrade
• Southern Cross Station project
• Flinders Street Station
• Railway crossings
• Rail system safety
• Premium Stations

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In Regional Victoria

Current projects

• The $501.3 million North-East Rail Revitalisation Project will involve removing the rail line from the centre of Wodonga and converting 200 kilometres of broad gauge track to standard gauge, resulting in benefits for both passenger and freight rail services between Melbourne and Sydney. The project is a joint State and Federal government venture with work on the project to start in late 2008 for completion in 2010.

• An extra 22 VLocity rail carriages and a further 2 two-car sets will be added to the regional passenger rail fleet. V/Line's current fleet of H Class carriages and Sprinter trains will also be refurbished - see New and refurbished trains and trams

• The Mildura rail freight upgrade will improve the reliability of this important freight link.

• A series of Park and ride (Parkway) facilities will be built.

See also

• Regional railway station projects
• Regional rail network improvements
• Railway crossings

Completed projects

• A new V/Line timetable was introduced on 30 September 2007 delivering an extra 48 services a week across the regional passenger rail network.

• The Regional Fast Rail project was finalised in 2006 and has provided 38 new trains, a better timetable and upgraded tracks and signals to deliver more frequent, reliable and comfortable services along the Ballarat, Bendigo, Geelong and Latrobe Valley lines.

• Passenger rail services have been returned to Ararat and Bairnsdale as part of the Bringing trains back to Victorians project

• The $5 million Marshall Railway Station services Geelong's southern suburbs and nearby Surf Coast communities.

• The new Sherwood Park Railway Station opened in Warrnambool in February 2006.

See also the Road, ports and freight section for more information on freight rail projects.

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Media releases

See the Railway crossings page for more media releases.

31 Jul 2008	Travellers Aid returns to Flinders Street Station
20 Jun 2008	Major improvements for Deer Park Station
16 Jun 2008	More car parks for Cranbourne commuters
30 May 2008	Federal-State co-operation delivers major rail project
23 May 2008	V/Line in vogue as one million Victorians validate
28 Apr 2008	Regional trains continuing to break records
25 Apr 2008	More than 100 new weekly services to begin from Sunday
24 Apr 2008	Noble Park Station receives a splash of colour
9 Apr 2008	New metro rail timetable as patronage hits historic high
5 Apr 2008	Folding bikes allowed on trains, trams and buses
1 Apr 2008	New bridge to be constructed for Clifton Hill Rail
18 Mar 2008	Cranbourne Station train stabling project on track
22 Jan 2008	Works begin on Clifton Hill Rail Project
18 Jan 2008	Facelift for Lara Station
18 Jan 2008	Works begin for Cranbourne train stabling and station upgrade

For previous media releases, see Train media releases 2000 to 2007.