Melton Line Upgrades to Boost Capacity in Melbourne’s Growing West

To increase rail capacity in the rapidly growing western Melbourne region, the government will upgrade the Melton Line.

Construction is currently underway on a new train stabling yard in Cobblebank, which will allow nine-car VLocity trains scheduled to operate on the Melton Line to enter service one year ahead of the original 2028 delivery date. The project is expected to increase passenger capacity by 50% during peak hours.

Meanwhile, planning for the future electrification of the line is expected to begin this year. The government will allocate $152.7 million for the initial phase of the project, covering site investigations, environmental assessments, planning approvals, securing a power supply for the future electrified line, and detailed design and costing in collaboration with delivery partners. The remainder of the project budget will be allocated in future planning phases.

The government said electrification would increase the number of trains on the Melton Line and enable regional VLocity services to operate on the corridors where they are most needed.

According to the latest population statistics from the City of Melton, the city’s population grew by 5.8% in 2024–2025, making it Australia’s fastest-growing municipality. Sam Rae, the Federal Member for Hawke, stated that to keep pace with Melton’s rapid development, the government must improve infrastructure in the region to enhance residents’ quality of life.

The new yard will be built east of Melton Station and will be directly connected to the railway line to accommodate early-morning trains bound for Southern Cross. The final design indicates that the depot will also be capable of supporting the future electrification of the Melton Line.

Other projects along the line are also progressing steadily. The platforms at Caroline Springs and Deer Park stations have already been extended, while those at Rockbank and Cobblebank stations are scheduled to be extended later this year.

The government has also invested in the construction of a new accessible Melton Station, which is set to open later this year. In addition, the government will remove four level crossings at Coburns, Exford, and Ferris Roads in Melton, and Hopkins Road in Truganina, to improve safety and alleviate traffic congestion on local roads.

“These improvements will help keep people moving, with better connections right across the west,” State Member for Kororoit Luba Grigorovitch said.

Sources:

https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/works-powering-ahead-melton-line-upgrade

https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/melton-electrification-way

https://www.melton.vic.gov.au/Council/About-the-City/Demographics