Werribee line

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This article is about the Metro Trains Melbourne service. For the physical railway itself, see Warrnambool railway line.

Werribee
Railways in Melbourne
Station entrance to Williams Landing station in Melbourne.
Williams Landing station on the Werribee line, which opened in 2013
Overview
Service typeCommuter rail
SystemMelbourne railway network
StatusOperational
LocaleMelbourne, Victoria, Australia
Predecessor
  • Geelong (1857–?)
  • Williamstown Racecourse (1885–1920)
  • Altona Beach (1888–1890)
  • Altona Beach (1917–1926)
  • Williamstown Racecourse ^ (1920–1940)
  • Altona Beach ^ (1926–1938)
  • Altona ^ (1938–1985)
^ are electric services
First service25 June 1857; 166 years ago (1857-06-25)
Current operator(s)Metro Trains
Former operator(s)
Route
TerminiFlinders Street (some continue to Frankston)
Werribee
Stops17 (excluding City Loop stations)
Distance travelled32.9 km (20.4 mi) (via Altona)
Average journey time39 minutes (direct)
49 minutes (via Altona)
Service frequency
  • 20 minutes weekdays to Laverton via Altona
  • 4–15 minutes weekdays peak to Werribee direct
  • 20 minutes weekdays off-peak to Werribee direct
  • 20 minutes at nights and weekends to Werribee via Altona
  • 60 minutes early weekend mornings to Werribee via Altona
  • Extra frequency daytime between Flinders Street and Newport in combination with Williamstown line
  • Certain trains continue or start from Frankston
Line(s) usedAltona, Port Fairy
Technical
Rolling stockComeng, Siemens, X'Trapolis 100
Track gauge1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in)
Electrification1500 V DC overhead
Track owner(s)VicTrack

The Werribee line is a commuter railway line in the city of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.[1] Operated by Metro Trains Melbourne, it is the city's ninth longest metropolitan railway line at 32.9 kilometres (20.4 mi). The line runs from Flinders Street station in central Melbourne to Werribee station in the south west, serving 17 stations via Footscray, Newport, and Altona.[2] The line operates for approximately 19 hours a day (from approximately 5:00 am to around 12:00 am) with 24 hour service available on Friday and Saturday nights. During peak hour, headways of up to 5–20 minutes are operated with services every 20–30 minutes during off-peak hours.[3] Trains on the Werribee line run with a two three-car formations of Comeng, Siemens Nexas, and X'Trapolis 100 trainsets.[4]

Part of the line initially opened in 1857 by the Geelong and Melbourne Railway Company. The line was progressively finished within the next two years, allowing trains to travel from Melbourne to Geelong. In April 1885, a short branch was opened off the Werribee line just past Newport to Williamstown Racecourse, and in November 1888, a branch was opened off the Racecourse branch to Altona, terminating at a station named Altona Beach.[5] The construction of these lines played improtant parts in the development of Geelong and Melbourne's west during the 19th and 20th centuries, with the line continuing to be an important asset in the 21st century.

Since the 2010s, due to the heavily utilised infrastructure of the Werribee line, improvements and upgrades have been made. Works have included replacing sleepers, upgrading signalling technology, the removal of level crossings, planning for new infrastructure, the introduction of new rolling stock, and station accessibility upgrades.[6]

History[edit]

19th century[edit]

The original plans for the Geelong and Melbourne Railway Company's lines to Geelong/Werribee and Williamstown

In 1857, the Geelong and Melbourne Railway Company (G&MRC) opened the Werribee to Little River section of the line they were building between Newport and Geelong, then in June of that year, they opened the section between Werribee and a temporary station near Newport, known as Greenwich.[7] The intention was to connect to the Williamstown line being built by the Melbourne, Mount Alexander and Murray River Railway Company, with whom they had arranged permission to run the former company's trains over the latter company's tracks to Melbourne, but the Williamstown line was not yet ready.

However, by October 1857, construction of the Williamstown line had sufficiently advanced to allow the Geelong trains to run to the terminus at Williamstown Pier, so Greenwich station was closed and a connection was made to the Williamstown line towards Williamstown.[8] From Williamstown Pier, passengers could connect to a ferry across Hobsons Bay to Port Melbourne.[8]

The Williamstown line fully opened in January 1859, so the connection near Newport towards Williamstown was removed and replaced with a connection to Newport, and the through running of Geelong trains to Melbourne commenced.[8]

In April 1885, a short branch was opened off the Werribee line just past Newport to Williamstown Racecourse, and in November 1888, a branch was opened off the Racecourse branch to Altona, terminating at a station named Altona Beach.[5] This branch was opened by the Altona and Laverton Bay Freehold and Investment Company to encourage people to buy their land in the area.[5] However, the line closed less than two years later, in August 1890.

20th century[edit]

A portion of the Altona Beach line near Williamstown Racecourse was leased by the Victorian Railways (VR) in 1906 to store race trains.[9] Sometime between 1911 and 1919, the line reopened for goods trains with a siding built from Altona Beach to the Melbourne and Altona Colliery Company mine. From November 1917, the VR worked on the line on behalf of the then owners, Altona Beach Estates Ltd., but to a relocated Altona Beach station, short of the original terminus.[10]

The VR electrified the Williamstown line and the branch to Williamstown Racecourse in August 1920.[9][11] In October 1924, the VR took total control of the Altona Beach line, and electrified it in October 1926.[11] Automatic Block Signalling was commissioned between South Kensington and Yarraville in August 1927, and then on to Newport. The Automatic and Track Control system was installed from Newport South towards Geelong, enabling bidirectional use of the then single track line.

The site of the former Williamstown Racecourse station, 2008.

The Williamstown Racecourse branch closed in May 1950.[9] Duplication of the Werribee line occurred in stages between 1960 and 1968, with the Altona branch converted to Automatic Block Signalling in October 1967. First announced by the Transport Minister Joe Rafferty in 1977, electrification was extended from Altona Junction to Werribee in September 1983, whilst in January 1985, the Altona line was extended to Westona.[12]

By the early 1980s, the Altona Loop was under threat of closure, as recommended in the Lonie Report.[13] In October 1981, the rail service was drastically cut, with all shuttle services withdrawn, and only two morning and evening trains being operated to and from Melbourne.[5] However, a change of state government in 1982 saw the restitution of many services in July of that year.[5] On 21 January 1985, the line was subsequently extended to Westona and, in April of that year, was extended from Westona to Laverton.[14][15][16][17] In April 1985, Altona to Westona, which had temporarily been operated by Staff and Ticket safeworking, was converted to Automatic and Track Control, and a few days later, the line was extended to Laverton and therefore connecting with the Werribee line.

21st century[edit]

Main article: Werribee railway line § Future

Initially, almost every Werribee bound service ran via Westona, but a timetable re-write in May 2011 saw this section converted to a separate service for the majority of the time.[18] The rewrite introduced the controversial practice of having trains serving the Altona Loop run as a shuttle service between Laverton and Newport during off peak hours.[19] Shuttle services were ended in August 2017, with direct services to and from the city being reinstated to the Altona Loop.[20]

The completion of the Regional Rail Link in 2015 bought numerous benefits to the operations on the Werribee line.

In June 2015, the completion of the Regional Rail Link allowed for the rerouting of Geelong and Warrnambool services via the 90 km of new track constructed between Little River and Deer Park stations.[21] Instead of stopping at select stations on the Werribee line, services now stop at new stations at Wyndham Vale and Tarneit which are in Melbournes growing western suburbs. The separation of suburban and regional trains has reduced overcrowding, increased capacity, and improved service reliability on the Werribee line in addition to the benefits seen on Geelong services.[22]

In January 2021, a major timetable rewrite resulted in increased frequencies and weekend daytime shuttle services being extended from Newport to Flinders Street.[23] Peak hour weekday services now stop at South Kensington, which simplifies stopping patterns on the Sunbury line.[23] In addition, peak hour frequencies were also made more consistent for the Altona Loop.[24]

Future[edit]

Level crossing removals[edit]

The Cherry Street level crossing in Werribee prior to its 2021 removal.

The Level Crossing Removal Project has announced the removal of all remaining level crossings on the Werribee line, to be completed in stages from 2018 to 2030. In 2018, one level crossing was removed at Kororoit Creek Road, Williamstown North.[25] The crossing was removed by raising the rail line onto a rail bridge above the road with partial duplication of the Altona Loop completed as part of the project.[25] In 2019, another level crossing was removed at Aviation Road, Laverton.[26] The crossing was removed by raising the road onto a bridge above the rail line with upgrades to Aircraft station in conjunction with the project.[26] The upgrades included a redesigned station forecourt and construction of a new pedestrian underpass.[26] In 2021, a total of 3 level crossings were removed at various locations along the line. Crossings were removed at Old Geelong Road in Hoppers Crossing and Werribee Street and Cherry Street in Werribee. Two of these crossings were removed with road bridges and one with a rail bridge.[27][28][29] The removal of the crossing at Old Geelong Road in Hoppers Crossing also included an upgrade to Hoppers Crossing station with a new overpass, station forecourt, and bus interchange.[30] The final five crossings along the line (excluding the ones on the Altona Loop) will be removed by 2030. The crossing at Hudsons Road, Spotswood and Maddox Road, Newport will be removed by constructing two separate rail bridges with a new Spotswood station also being built.[31] In addition, the crossing at Maidstone Street will be removed with the construction of a road bridge and two crossings—Anderson Street and Champion Road—will be closed off.[31] At the end of these works, the Werribee line will be fully level crossing free by 2030.

Network reconfiguration[edit]

When the new cross-city rail corridor being built by the Metro Tunnel opens in 2025 there will be a reorganisation of the Melbourne rail network.[32] The Victorian Department of Transport and Planning plans to return the Frankston line to the City Loop, with dedicated use of the Caulfield group tunnel track.[33] This will mean Frankston line trains will no longer through-run with Werribee and Williamstown line trains, and will again stop at City Loop stations Flagstaff, Melbourne Central, and Parliament.[33] As part of the reconfiguration, the Werribee and Williamstown lines would instead begin through-running services to Sandringham for the first time.[33]

Melbourne Metro 2[edit]

Main article: Melbourne Metro 2
A map of Melbournes past, present, and future rail system
The indicative alignment of the Melbourne Metro 2.

The 2012 Network Development Plan identified the need for a east-west tunnel connecting the Werribee (and potentially) the Geelong line to the Mernda line.[34] The project would split the Mernda line from the Hurstbridge line after Clifton Hill into a new tunnel, travelling east stopping at a new station in the "inner north", before connecting with at Parkville, Flagstaff, and Southern Cross stations.[35] Exiting the CBD, the line would continue in a tunnel stopping at a new station in the suburb of Fishermans Bend, before crossing underneath the Yarra River and arriving at Newport station.[35] The line would then exit the tunnel and travel further west to connect with the Werribee line bypassing the Altona Loop.[35] The Werribee and Williamstown lines will be reconfigured to provide better and simpler service.[35][36] This project was initially meant to be completed in the 2020s, however, no funding or planning has taken place, with the revised Victorian Rail Plan stating that the project would be completed under Stage 6 of the plan.[37]

As part of the Melbourne Metro 2, the Werribee and Williamstown lines would be reconfigured to provide simpler service. The Sandringham line would continue running to Williamstown with the line also travelling to and terminating at Laverton via the Altona Loop. Express services (not via the Altona Loop) would instead be served by trains exiting the Melbourne Metro 2 tunnel towards Werribee (and potentially Geelong).[38]

Geelong Fast Rail[edit]

Main article: Western Rail Plan § Geelong Fast Rail

The Western Rail Plan is a plan that aims to improve the quality of rail services in Melbournes western suburbs through infrastructure upgrades on a range of metropolitan and regional lines.[6] Geelong Fast Rail was one project identified in the Western Rail Plan as a matter of priority, as it would allow for Geelong and Warrnambool services to travel back via the Werribee line, cutting travel time and allowing electrification of other corridors to occur which are currently being served exclusively by V/Line trains.[39] Phase 1 of Geelong Fast Rail will consist of the following projects aimed at cutting travel times by 15 minutes:[39]

  • New track between Werribee and Laverton dedicated to regional services
  • Upgrades and widening of bridges over main roads, creeks, and rivers
  • Upgraded stations at Werribee and Laverton
  • Signalling and train control system upgrades

Construction on the project expected to get underway in 2023, with the Australian and Victorian governments committing $2 billion each to the project which is expected to create 2800 new jobs.[40]

Network and operations[edit]

Services[edit]

Services on the Werribee line operates from approximately 5:00 am to around 12:00 am daily.[41] In general, during peak hours, train frequency is 5–15 minutes (reduced frequencies on the Altona Loop) while services during non-peak hours drops to 20 minutes throughout the entire route.[3] Instead of running through the City Loop, services terminate at Flinders Street and then continue onto the Frankston line, with boosted frequencies in combination with the Williamstown line.[42] The Night Network operates on Friday nights and weekends, with services running 24 hours a day, with 60 minute frequencies available outside of normal operating hours.[43]

Train services on the Werribee line are also subjected to maintenance and renewal works, usually on selected Fridays and Saturdays. Shuttle bus services are provided throughout the duration of works for affected commuters.[44]

Stopping patterns[edit]

Legend — Station status

  • ◼ Premium Station – Station staffed from first to last train
  • ◻ Host Station – Usually staffed during morning peak, however this can vary for different stations on the network.

Legend — Stopping patterns
Services do not operate via the City Loop

  • ● – All trains stop
  • ◐ – Some services do not stop
  • ▼ – Only outbound trains stop
  • | – Trains pass and do not stop
Werribee Services[45]
Station Zone Werribee
(via Altona) 		Werribee
(direct) 		Ltd Express Laverton
◼ Flinders Street 1 ● ● ▼ ●
◼ Southern Cross ● ● ▼ ●
◼ North Melbourne ● ● ▼ ●
◻ South Kensington ● ◐ ◐ ●
◼ Footscray ● ● ▼ ●
◻ Seddon ● ◐ ◐ ●
◻ Yarraville ● ◐ ◐ ●
◻ Spotswood ● ◐ ◐ ●
◼ Newport ● ● ▼ ●
◻ Seaholme ● ●
◻ Altona 1/2 ● ●
◻ Westona ● ●
◼ Laverton ● ● ▼ ●
◻ Aircraft 2 ● ● |
◼ Williams Landing ● ● |
◻ Hoppers Crossing ● ● |
◼ Werribee ● ● ▼

Operators[edit]

Victorian Railways operate part of the Altona branch for Altona Beach Estates between 1911 and 1924.

The Werribee line has had a total of 10 operators since its opening in 1857. Early in 1857, the Geelong and Melbourne Railway Company (G&MR) opened the Werribee to Little River section of the line they were building between Newport and Geelong. 2 years later in 1859, the government acquired the line and begun operations under the newly formed Victorian Railways (VR). The railway to Altona was constructed by the Altona Beach Estate Company, a private land developer, and opened on 9 November 1888 to a station named Altona Beach, which was about a kilometre to the east of the current station.[11] As a result of the collapse of the 1880s Land Boom, regular services to Altona Beach ceased after August 1890, and the Victorian Government declined the offer of the owners to gift it the line. In 1917, the owners of the estate entered into an agreement with the Victorian Railways (VR) to provide a regular passenger service, having guaranteed to cover any operating losses.[5] The majority of operations throughout its history have been government run: from its government acquisition in 1859 until the 1999 privatisation of Melbourne's rail network, four different government operators have run the line.[46] These operators, Victorian Railways, the Metropolitan Transit Authority, the Public Transport Corporation, and Bayside Trains have a combined operational length of 140 years.

Bayside Trains was privatised in August 1999 and later rebranded M>Train. In 2002, M>Train was placed into receivership and the state government regained ownership of the line, with KPMG appointed as receivers to operate M>Train on behalf of the state government.[47][48][49] Two years later, rival train operator Connex Melbourne took over the M>Train operations including the Williamstown line. Metro Trains Melbourne, the current private operator, then took over the operations in 2009. The private operators have had a combined operational period of 28 years.[50]

Past and present operators of the Werribee line:
Operator Assumed operations Ceased operations Length of operations
Geelong and Melbourne Railway (G&MR) 1857 1860 3 years
Victorian Railways 1860 1983 123 years
Altona Beach Estates 1888 1890 2 years
Victorian Railways for Altona Beach Estates 1911 1924 13 years
Metropolitan Transit Authority 1983 1989 6 years
Public Transport Corporation 1989 1998 9 years
Bayside Trains (government operator) 1998 2000 2 years
M>Train 2000 2004 4 years
Connex Melbourne 2004 2009 5 years
Metro Trains Melbourne 2009 incumbent 14 years (ongoing)

Route[edit]

For information about about the actual track, see Warrnambool railway line.
Map
Interactive map of the Werribee line in western Melbourne, showing the Altona loop.
Werribee (section) &
Altona (physical track)
Overview
StatusOperational with passenger services from Flinders Street to Werribee
Owner
LocaleMelbourne, Victoria, Australia
Termini
Continues asPort Fairy line
Connecting lines
Former connectionsMaribyrnong
Stations
  • 17 current stations
  • 13 former stations
  • 3 sidings
  • 6 former sidings
Service
ServicesWerribee
History
Commenced25 June 1857 (1857-06-25)
Opened
  • Greenwich to Werribee on 25 June 1857 (1857-06-25)
  • Southern Cross to Newport on 17 January 1859 (1859-01-17)
  • Altona junction to Williamstown Racecourse on 6 April 1885 (1885-04-06)
  • Racecourse junction to Altona Beach on 22 August 1888 (1888-08-22)
  • Altona to Westona on 20 January 1985 (1985-01-20)
  • Westona to Laverton on 11 April 1985 (1985-04-11)
Completed17 January 1859 (1859-01-17)
ReopenedRacecourse junction to Altona on 1 December 1917 (1917-12-01)
Electrified
  • Flinders Street to North Melbourne on 28 May 1919 (1919-05-28)
  • North Melbourne to Williamstown Racecourse on 2 August 1920 (1920-08-02)
  • Racecourse junction to Altona on 2 October 1926 (1926-10-02)
  • Altona junction to Werribee on 27 November 1983 (1983-11-27)
  • Altona to Westona on 20 January 1985 (1985-01-20)
  • Westona to Laverton on 11 April 1985 (1985-04-11)
Closed
  • Newport to Greenwich on 18 July 1857 (1857-07-18)
  • Racecourse junction to Altona Beach on 14 August 1890 (1890-08-14)
  • Racecourse junction to Williamstown Racecourse on 22 May 1950 (1950-05-22)
Technical
Line length32.9 km (20.4 mi) (via Altona)
Number of tracks
  • Six tracks – Flinders Street to Footscray
  • Double track: Footscray to Werribee (direct)
  • Single track: Altona Junction to Laverton (via Altona)
Track gauge1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in)
Electrification1500 V DC overhead
Operating speed
  • 115 km/h (71 mph) – Electric
  • 80 km/h (50 mph) – Diesel
SignallingAutomatic block signaling
Maximum incline1 in 40 (2.5%)

The Werribee line forms a mostly straight route from the Melbourne central business district to its terminus in Werribee. The route is 32.9 kilometres (20.4 mi) long and is fully doubled tracked from Flinders Street to its terminus, excluding during the Altona Loop. After changing from Frankston services at Flinders Street, the Werribee line traverses mainly flat country with few curves and fairly minimal earthworks for most of the line. Few sections of the line has been elevated or lowered to remove level crossings. All remaining level crossings will be removed by 2030.[51]

The line follows the same alignment as the Williamstown line with the two services splitting onto different routes at Newport. The Werribee line continues on its south-western alignment, whereas the Williamstown line takes a southern alignment towards its final destination.[52] Most of the rail line goes through built-up suburbs and heavy industrial areas with small pockets on non-urbanised spaces.[52]

Stations[edit]

The line serves 17 stations across 39.2 kilometres (24.4 mi) of track. The stations are a mix of elevated, lowered, and ground level designs. The majority of elevated and lowered stations being constructed as part of level crossing removals.[53] From 2030, Spotswood station will be elevated as part of additional level crossing removal works.[51]

Station Accessibility Opened Terrain Train connections Other connections
Flinders Street Yes—step free access 1854[54] Lowered
16 connections
 Trams Buses
Southern Cross 1859[54] Ground level
27 connections
 Trams Buses Coaches SkyBus
North Melbourne
7 connections
 Buses
South Kensington No—steep ramp 1891[54]
1 connection
Footscray Yes—step free access 1859[54]
10 connections
 Trams Buses
Seddon No—steep ramp 1906[54]
1 connection
Yarraville Yes—step free access 1871[54] Buses
Spotswood 1878[54]
Newport No—steep ramp 1859[54] Buses
Seaholme 1920[54]
Altona Yes—step free access 1917[54]
Westona 1985[54]
Laverton 1886[54]
Aircraft 1925[54]
Williams Landing 2013[54]
Hoppers Crossing 1970[54]
Werribee No—steep ramp 1857[54]
Station histories
Station Opened[55] Closed[55] Age Notes[55]
Flagstaff 27 May 1985 38 years
  • Not a stop since 2021
Melbourne Central 26 January 1981 43 years
  • Formerly Museum
  • Not a stop since 2021
Parliament 22 January 1983 41 years
  • Not a stop since 2021
Flinders Street 12 September 1854 169 years
  • Formerly Melbourne Terminus
Southern Cross 17 January 1859 165 years
  • Formerly Batman's Hill
  • Formerly Spencer Street
North Melbourne 6 October 1859 164 years
South Kensington 11 March 1891 133 years
Saltwater River 1 October 1859 c. 1867 Approx. 7 years
Footscray 24 September 1900 123 years
Footscray (Suburban) 24 January 1859 24 September 1900 41 years
Seddon 10 December 1906 117 years
Yarraville 20 November 1871 152 years
Spotswood 1 February 1878 146 years
  • Formerly Edom
  • Formerly Bayswater
  • Formerly Spottiswoode
Newport 1 March 1859 165 years
  • Formerly Geelong Junction
  • Formerly Williamstown Junction
Greenwich 25 June 1857 28 July 1857 33 days
Garden Platform (Newport Workshops) ? ?
Freezing Works Siding 27 April 1883 1993 109 years
Williamstown Racecourse (1st) 26 December 1860 c. April 1885 Approx. 24 years
  • 1st site
Metro Infrastructure Works Siding 2 June 1955 68 years
  • Formerly Vacuum Oil Siding
  • Formerly PRA Siding
  • Formerly Mobil Siding
SEC Siding 9 November 1952 14 September 1993 40 years
Hatherley 2 March 1891 5 April 1897 6 years
Mobiltown 24 November 1953 21 January 1985 31 years
  • Formerly Standard Oil Platform
Paisley 14 October 1929 14 April 1985 55 years
Williamstown Racecourse (2nd) 6 April 1885 10 February 1940 54 years
  • 2nd site
Australian Carbon Black Siding 1 December 1964 19 August 1990 25 years
BP Sidings c. 30 May 1922 July 1996 Approx. 74 years
  • Formerly Oil Refineries Sidings
  • Formerly COR Sidings
BP Platform 10 May 1927 October 1959 32 years
  • Formerly COR Platform
Seaholme 26 January 1920 104 years
Altona 1 December 1917 106 years
  • Formerly Altona Beach (2nd)
Altona Beach (1st) 22 August 1888 14 August 1890 23 months
Galvin 22 August 1927 14 April 1985 57 years
Westona 25 January 1985 39 years
Laverton 1 July 1886 137 years
Aircraft 8 March 1926 May 1932 6 years
  • 1st site
  • Was originally Aviation Siding
  • Later Aircraft Siding
10 May 1932 91 years
  • 2nd site
  • Formerly Aircraft Siding
Williams Landing 28 April 2013 10 years
Hoppers Crossing 16 November 1970 8 July 1983 12 years
  • 1st site
9 July 1983 40 years
  • 2nd site
Werribee 25 June 1857 166 years
Werribee Racecourse 1884 1995 111 years

Infrastructure[edit]

Rolling stock[edit]

Main articles: X'Trapolis 100, Siemens Nexas, and Comeng
Siemens Nexas EMUs are one type of rolling stock featured on the line.

The Werribee line uses three different types of electric multiple unit (EMU) trains that are operated in a split six-car configuration, with three doors per side on each carriage. The primary rolling stock featured on the line is the Comeng EMUs, built by Commonwealth Engineering between 1981 and 1988.[56] These train sets are the oldest on the Melbourne rail network and subsequently will be replaced by the mid 2030s.[57] Siemens Nexas EMUs are also widely featured on the line, originally built between 2002 and 2005 these train sets feature more modern technology than the Comeng trains.[58] The final type of rolling stock featured on the line is the X'Trapolis 100 built by Alstom between 2002 and 2004, and 2009 and 2020.[4] All of these rolling stock models are widely used on other lines across the metropolitan network and work as the backbone of the network.

Alongside the passenger trains, Werribee line tracks and equipment are maintained by a fleet of engineering trains. The four types of engineering trains are: the shunting train; designed for moving trains along non-electrified corridors and for transporting other maintenance locomotives, for track evaluation; designed for evaluating track and its condition, the overhead inspection train; designed for overhead wiring inspection, and the infrastructure evaluation carriage designed for general infrastructure evaluation.[59] Most of these trains are repurposed locomotives previously used by V/Line, Metro Trains, and the Southern Shorthaul Railroad.[59]

Planned rolling stock[edit]

Main article: X'Trapolis 2.0

From the middle of 2020s, the next generation of the X'Trapolis family of electric EMUs—the X'Trapolis 2.0—will be introduced. This new model will fully replace the existing fleet of Comeng EMUs currently operating on the line currently with new, modern, and technologically advanced trains. The new trains will feature:[60]

  • Modernised doors to reduce the boarding times at stations to under 40 seconds
  • Passenger information systems to display that train's journey in real time
  • Higher energy efficiency to work with a lower network voltage, to fit in line with modern rail systems overseas
  • New interior designs including tip-up seating to allow space for wheelchair spaces.
  • Designated bicycle storage areas
  • Passenger operated automatic wheelchair ramps located behind driver cabs
  • Six car fully walk through carriages

Accessibility[edit]

An old station with a new footbridge
Footscray station is classed as fully wheelchair accessible due to the elevators provided in the foot bridge.

In compliance with the Disability Discrimination Act of 1992, all stations that are new-built or rebuilt are fully accessible and comply with these guidelines.[61] The majority of stations on the corridor are fully accessible, however, there are some stations that haven't been upgraded to meet these guidelines.[62] These stations do feature ramps, however, they have a gradient greater than 1 in 14.[62] Stations that are fully accessible feature ramps that have a gradient less than 1 in 14, have at-grade paths, or feature lifts.[62] These stations typically also feature tactile boarding indicators, independent boarding ramps, wheelchair accessible myki barriers, hearing loops, and widened paths.[62][63]

Projects improving station accessibility have included the Level Crossing Removal Project, which involves station rebuilds and upgrades and other individual station upgrade projects.[64][65] These works have made significant strides in improving network accessibility, with more than 76% of Werribee line stations classed as fully accessible. This number is expected to grow within the coming years with the completion of level crossing removal works on the corridor by 2029.[66]

Signalling[edit]

The Werribee line uses three-position signalling which is widely used across the Melbourne train network.[67] Three-position signalling was first introduced in 1927, with the final section of the line converted to the new type of signalling in 1946.[68] Past Werribee, three-position signalling continues further past Geelong.

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Werribee Line". Public Transport Victoria. Archived from the original on 7 September 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  2. ^ "Metro's paper timetables mess". Daniel Bowen. 3 September 2017. Archived from the original on 9 December 2022. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
  3. ^ a b "New timetable train line information – Public Transport Victoria". 1 March 2021. Archived from the original on 1 March 2021. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
  4. ^ a b Carey, Adam (7 November 2014). "Trains are working better but seating not guaranteed". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 6 February 2023. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
  5. ^ a b c d e f Guiney, Michael (1988). The Altona Bay Railway. self-published.
  6. ^ a b Victoria’s Big Build (29 November 2022). "Western Rail Plan". Victoria’s Big Build. Archived from the original on 2 March 2021. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  7. ^ "GEELONG AND MELBOURNE RAILWAY COMPANY". Argus. 7 July 1859. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  8. ^ a b c "GEELONG to "GREENWICH". Age. 28 June 1952. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  9. ^ a b c "Racecourse – Altona Homestead – Home of the Altona Laverton Historical Society". Archived from the original on 5 May 2023. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
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External links[edit]

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