Passengers along the Werribee line will soon see 60 extra services each week, with a redesigned timetable to take effect from early next year as Victorians get back onto the public transport network.

Member for Werribee Tim Pallas today announced details of the Victorian Government’s new train timetables, which will see 20 extra services a week added during the busy morning period and 40 new offpeak services from 31 January 2021 – which means passengers can expect trains at least every 10 minutes during the busiest times of day.

These extra train services for the line come on top of the 10 extra services the Government added in July to help people stagger their travel – giving passengers more space on trains and platforms, making it easier to practise good physical distancing.

50 of the new services will originate or terminate at Laverton – providing more consistency across the day, while the remaining 10 services will start or end in Werribee. Most Werribee line trains will continue to the Frankston line after arriving at Flinders Street Station, providing better access to destinations across the city.

To reduce overcrowding, only two early services will stop at South Kensington in the mornings – and trains from Williamstown and Laverton will stop at South Kensington every 10 minutes during the morning peak instead.

Further up the line, passengers boarding between Newport and Footscray will receive a huge boost to their services with the extra Werribee services and boosts to Williamstown line frequency – delivering a 10-minute frequency between Newport and Flinders Street on weekends.

All weekend trains on the Werribee line will run direct to and from Flinders Street Station and not via the City Loop, giving passengers a more predictable journey all day, every day.

To make it easier for metropolitan passengers to travel during quieter times and physically distance as Victoria recovers from the coronavirus pandemic, off-peak fares will be discounted for three months. From 31 January 2021, anyone using myki money between 9.30am and 4pm or after 7pm on weekdays will receive a 30 per cent discount.

The Government is delivering the upgrades both train passengers and motorists on the Werribee line need, with the Werribee Street level crossing to be removed by the end of summer, construction well underway on the Cherry Street crossing removal in Werribee, and work ramping up on the crossing at Old Geelong Road in Hoppers Crossing.

By 2022, the six level crossings across the Werribee and Williamstown lines will be gone for good – and combined with the Metro Tunnel, which will be delivered in 2025, these projects will make room for 63,000 extra peak passengers every week on the Werribee and Williamstown lines.

To make sure Victorians can better access their local train stations, local bus services will gradually be brought in line with the new trains in February and April next year – with new timetables for 320 bus routes across the city.

To keep passengers safe, extra cleaning of all public transport facilities will continue across the network and hand sanitising facilities will stay at key stations and stops. Victorians are reminded to play their part in keeping our state safe by always wearing a mask on public transport, practising good hygiene and never travelling when unwell.

The new timetables will be available at ptv.vic.gov.au from 8 January 2021.

Quotes attributable to Member for Werribee Tim Pallas

“As Victorians get back out doing the things they love, extra services on the Werribee line will give passengers more options on their travelling times and help them practise better physical distancing.”

“Our new train timetable will improve reliability and flexibility – delivering a train at least every 10 minutes for Werribee line passengers during peak times.” “To add to the improvements 60 new services will bring, we’re upgrading travel for both train passengers and motorists in the west – removing six dangerous and congested level crossings on the Werribee and Williamstown lines.”