VIC Govt $5bn investment in pulic transport blitz to deliver more trains services

Through the Victorian Budget 2025/26, the State Government is investing almost $5 billion in a public transport blitz that will help cut congestion for busy families and workers while saving time for rail passengers. 

This significant investment will: 

• Switch on the Metro Tunnel and deliver turn-up-and-go services 

• Run more frequent train services elsewhere across the network 

• Kick off the first stage of Airport Rail by funding the Sunshine Station superhub 

“We’re focused on what matters most. People just want to get to work and get home sooner, and I’m on their side,” Premier Jacinta Allan said. 

“While we’re cutting congestion and helping Victorians spend less time at the station, the Liberals are planning to cancel projects and make congestion worse. They don’t believe in public transport,” Minister for Public and Active Transport Gabrielle Williams said. 

“Building Airport Rail will electrify the north-west, unlocking its true potential and getting families home faster,” Member for Niddrie Ben Carroll said. 

“Sunshine Station will become a superhub delivering more jobs and more train services for our community,” Member for Laverton Sarah Connolly said. 

“We’re building the road and rail projects the west needs and backing it up with more services,” Member for Point Cook Mathew Hilakari said. 

The Metro Tunnel development is the largest transformation in the State’s rail network since the City Loop, and it will deliver more services as well as more time savings with new rail tunnels under the CBD alongside five new underground stations. 

This year, a $727 million investment will enable the Metro Tunnel to start operations. This funding will switch it on and deliver turn-up-and-go services for the Sunbury, Cranbourne and Pakenham lines that will run through it. 

“When the Metro Tunnel opens, it will mean even better connections to every corner of the city from Footscray,” Member for Footscray Katie Hall said. 

“When the Metro Tunnel opens it means more opportunities for young people and workers in our community,” Member for St Albans Natalie Suleyman said. 

“The Metro Tunnel will provide direct access into Melbourne’s booming health and job precincts,” Member for Western Metropolitan Region Ingrid Stitt said. 

A further $98.7 million is also being committed through the Budget to deliver more frequent services for passengers on other lines to make it easier for passengers to get to work and home sooner. This includes: 

• Werribee line – two additional trains per hour in the mornings and afternoons, increasing the number of trains on the Werribee line in peak periods from six to eight trains per hour 

• Sandringham line – services running every 10 minutes between peak periods, increasing the number of trains from four to six trains per hour between peak periods 

• Craigieburn line – increase in services during shoulder peak and off-peak periods, with trains running at least every 20 minutes on the line, including late at night and on weekends 

• Upfield line – increase in off-peak services with trains running at least every 20 minutes on the line, including late at night and on weekends 

• Gippsland line – additional weekday interpeak services on the Traralgon Line following the completion of the Gippsland Line Upgrade this year, with trains to run every 40 minutes 

• Bendigo line – longer trains running on more weekend services 

• Seymour line – an additional service on the morning and afternoon peak 

This much-needed boost to train services builds on the more than 2,100 additional weekly services added across the regional and metropolitan train network since 2015. 

The Victorian Government is committed to improving transport across Melbourne’s west to save time and bust congestion through initiatives such as removing level crossings, delivering the Metro Tunnel and West gate Tunnel as well as upgrading the Melton Line. 

Moreover, the Allan Labor Government is now partnering with the Albanese Labor Government to build a new transport superhub in Sunshine as the key element to delivering Airport Rail and the first step in the electrification of Melton Line. 

“More trains mean more workers in the west getting home safer and sooner,” Member for Tarneit Dylan Wight said. 

“More peak services on the Werribee line is exactly what our growing community needs,” Member for Werribee John Lister said. 

“This investment makes sure my community in Melbourne’s West can get to work or school faster and more reliably,” Member for Williamstown Melissa Horne said. 

“Labor’s delivering better public transport across the west, making it easier for locals to get where they need to go,” Member for Sydenham Natalie Hutchins said. 

“Sunbury is one of the fastest growing communities in the state – it’s why we’re upgrading roads and rail,” Member for Sunbury Josh Bull said. 

“We’ve delivered record investment in Melbourne’s west to cut congestion and deliver better public transport,” Member for Western Metropolitan Region Lizzie Blandthorn said. 

The recent Budget allocated $4 billion towards the Sunshine Station redevelopment to fast track its delivery – bringing forward $2 billion of the State Government’s investment in Airport Rail – and kickstart works as soon as possible. 

This redevelopment will enable Sunshine Station to support over 40 metropolitan and regional trains per hour alongside trains from the Melton and Melbourne Airport lines in future journeys into the Metro Tunnel. 

“Upgrading Sunshine Station is the first step to electrification to Melton – and the Liberals want to cut it,” Member for Melton Steve McGhie said. 

“We’re removing level crossings, upgrading the Melton line and upgrading Sunshine Station,” Member for Kororoit Luba Grigorovitch said. 

Source: Premier of Victoria – Media Centre; Infrastructure Magazine; Rail Express