LeadWest calls for Western Rail expansion alongside $1.7 billion train plan

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On September 2, LeadWest, a regional alliance comprising the five local governments of Brimbank, Hobsons Bay, Maribyrnong, Melton, and Wyndham in Melbourne's west, expressed support for the Victorian Liberal and National Coalition's election commitment to invest $1.7 billion in procuring 25 hybrid electric trains, while urging all parties to further clarify the funding, timeline, and implementation arrangements for rail infrastructure in Melbourne's west. The train procurement proposal is contingent on the Liberal and National Coalition winning the Victorian election in November 2026 and is intended for the Melton and Wyndham Vale lines.

Under the election proposal, the 25 new trains would feature electric and hybrid propulsion capabilities, enabling operation across both electrified and non-electrified lines. The Liberal and National Coalition stated that once the new trains enter service, potential peak-hour services into Melbourne's City Loop on the Melton and Wyndham Vale lines could increase, with passenger capacity on both lines expected to more than double. Both lines currently rely primarily on V/Line diesel multiple units.

LeadWest stated that fleet expansion should proceed in tandem with infrastructure delivery under the Western Rail Plan, with its current priorities including electrification of the Melton and Wyndham Vale lines, construction of new stations at Mt Atkinson and Thornhill Park, and associated line capacity upgrades; the Wyndham Vale corridor also proposes additional stations at Truganina, Black Forest Road, and Sayers Road. LeadWest's existing plans also include extending the Sunshine to Caroline Springs section to four tracks to separate some regional and metropolitan train operations.

Electrification of the Melton line has now entered the development phase. The Australian Federal Government and the Victorian State Government have jointly committed $152.7 million for on-site surveys, environmental assessments, planning approvals, power supply solutions, and detailed design and cost estimation. On-site surveys commenced in July 2026, with related development work scheduled for completion by mid-2027, after which funding for subsequent project construction will be determined.

Running in parallel with the early electrification works, the Melton Line Upgrade is scheduled to introduce 9-car VLocity trains in 2027, with peak-hour passenger capacity expected to increase by 50%. The new Melton station opened on September 1, with two of its four platforms reserved for future metropolitan electric trains; a train stabling facility under construction at Cobblebank will accommodate six 9-car VLocity trains and is designed with provision for future stabling of Metro electric trains.

LeadWest data shows that Melton and Wyndham passengers account for approximately 40% of all V/Line boardings excluding Southern Cross station; the combined population of the two areas is projected to grow from approximately 597,000 in 2026 to over 940,000 by 2046. The Infrastructure Victoria 2025–2055 infrastructure strategy also recommends expanding metropolitan rail services in Melbourne's west before 2030, including electrification of the Melton line and increased services on the Wyndham Vale corridor.