Train services in Melbourne’s west are set for a substantial lift in capacity and reliability, with a 14-day construction blitz beginning this weekend to upgrade the Melton Line, build two new stations and remove four level crossings across the growing corridor.
The works, announced by the Minister for Transport Infrastructure Gabrielle Williams, will see crews working around the clock from tomorrow evening to construct the new West Tarneit Station, including critical drilling beneath the rail line and the build of platforms and station canopies.
When it opens later this year on the Geelong Line, West Tarneit Station will feature two platforms, an accessible underpass, a four-bay bus interchange and a 400-space car park. The station is designed to ease pressure on nearby Tarneit Station, currently the busiest regional station outside Southern Cross Station, and improve access to public transport for local residents.
“Building a new West Tarneit Station and upgrading the Melton Line to allow longer nine-car trains will deliver huge improvements to transport services for people in Melbourne’s booming west,” Ms Williams said.
The construction blitz will also include platform extensions at Caroline Springs and Deer Park stations as part of the broader Melton Line Upgrade. These works are aimed at enabling longer nine-car VLocity trains to operate from 2027, lifting passenger capacity by 50 per cent on peak services.
Signalling upgrades will be carried out to support the new Cobblebank stabling yard, which is being built to accommodate the longer trains and has been designed with future electrification of the Melton Line in mind.
Alongside station and rail works, crews will continue the removal of four level crossings in Melbourne’s west. This includes the construction of new rail bridges at Coburns and Exford roads in Melton, and new road bridges at Ferris Road in Melton and Hopkins Road in Truganina. The removals are expected to improve safety and reduce congestion on surrounding roads.
As part of the program, a new Melton Station will open later this year. The modern and accessible station is expected to improve access to train services and help ease pressure on local roads in the area.
‘The new West Tarneit Station will ease the pressure on Tarneit Station and provide more transport options for locals in the west’
Member for Tarneit Dylan Wight said the new station would help rebalance demand across the network. “The new West Tarneit Station will ease the pressure on Tarneit Station and provide more transport options for locals in the west,” he said.
Member for Melton Steve McGhie said the capacity gains from longer trains would be felt quickly by commuters. “Delivering a new Melton Station and upgrading the Melton Line to boost passenger capacity by 50 per cent will be a game changer for locals, making it easier to access public transport,” he said.
Member for Kororoit Luba Grigorovitch said the upgrades would improve everyday connections for residents across the western suburbs. “Passengers in Melbourne’s western suburbs will see real benefits from the Melton Line Upgrade, with more capacity, improved stations and better connections to jobs, education and services,” she said.
To allow the intensive works to be completed as efficiently as possible, sections of the Geelong and Ballarat lines will be closed during the construction period. Coaches and buses will replace trains from 8.00pm on Saturday, 10 January, until the last service on Friday, 23 January.
Ms Williams acknowledged the disruption and urged passengers to plan ahead. “We thank passengers for their patience while these critical works take place and ask that you plan your journeys ahead of time. Replacement coaches and buses will be operating to minimise disruption and ensure you can still get to where you need to go,” she said.
Passengers are being advised to allow extra travel time and check service changes in advance, particularly for services on the Warrnambool and Geelong lines, as well as the Ararat, Maryborough and Ballarat lines throughout January.
The works form part of a wider push to expand transport capacity in Melbourne’s west, where population growth continues to place pressure on existing infrastructure. With new stations, longer trains and the removal of key bottlenecks, the upgrades are expected to reshape how people in the corridor move around the city in the years ahead.
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