- Published:
- Tuesday 16 May 2017
The Andrews Labor Government will add 30 new Metro train services in the peak, every week – to get people in Melbourne’s north and west home safer and sooner.
Minister for Public Transport Jacinta Allan announced the new services today, which will be introduced as part of a new metropolitan timetable that will start on 27 August.
The timetable will add a new morning and evening peak services on the Craigieburn, Sunbury and Werribee lines.
These services will create room for 27,000 extra passengers at the busiest times, every week – when more room and more services are needed most.
In a massive boost for Altona Loop passengers, 37 daily services that currently stop at Newport will be extended in the new timetable.
The change fulfils the Labor Government election commitment to fully restore the direct city services for Altona Loop passengers the former Liberal Government took away.
Two peak services on the Hurstbridge line will be extended – also fulfilling a key election promise – providing more services for passengers in Rosanna, Macleod, Watsonia, Greensborough, Montmorency and Eltham.
The new services are made possible by the Labor Government’s ongoing investment in new trains for Melbourne.
It’s the fourth metropolitan timetable change implemented by the Labor Government, which has added more than 300 extra metro services and nearly 600 new regional services – delivering more trains, more often for people in Melbourne’s growing outer suburbs serviced by the V/Line network
The Labor Government has invested nearly $4 billion in new trains since it came to office, including 19 new X’Trapolis trains and 65 new high-capacity metro trains.
The Government is also getting on with the job of building the Metro Tunnel, removing dangerous level crossings and installing new high-tech signalling to run more trains, more often.
Two minutes will be added to services on the Frankston Line in the new timetable, in preparation for the opening of Southland Station later this year, and the timing of connecting buses will be adjusted to align with train services.
The new train timetables will be available in July from ptv.vic.gov.au.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Public Transport Jacinta Allan
"We’re running more trains at peak hour – when extra services and more room are needed most."
"The new services will make a real difference – getting people to work quicker and home sooner."
"We’re adding services and delivering the major projects our network needs – we’re getting on with the job.