Werribee railway line

Route map
	Warrnambool line
	to Warrnambool
	Western line
	to ● Adelaide Parklands
	Williamstown line
	to ● Williamstown
	Newport–Sunshine line
	to Sunshine
	Western line
	to ● Southern Cross
	Deniliquin line
	●●●●●●●● via Middle Footscray
	North East and Western lines
	to ● Albury, Central (Sydney) & Adelaide Parklands
	Melbourne Metro Tunnel
	under construction
	Tocumwal line
	●●●● via Kensington
	Upfield line
	to ● Upfield
	Hurstbridge line
	to ● Hurstbridge & ● Mernda
	Multiple lines
	●●●●●●●●●● via Richmond

Werribee
Overview
Service type	Commuter rail
Status	Operational
Locale	Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Current operator(s)	Metro Trains
Route
Start	Werribee
Stops	17 (excluding City Loop stations)
End	Flinders Street
Distance travelled	32.9 km (20.4 mi)
Average journey time	39 minutes (express); 50 minutes (local)
Service frequency	Every 10 minutes weekdays peak; 20 minutes daytime and evenings; Express trains during the peaks and weekday afternoons, generally skip stations between Footscray and Laverton, stopping only at Newport; Double frequency daytime on weekdays between Newport and Flinders Street in combination with Williamstown line; 60 minutes early weekend mornings;
Line(s) used	Warrnambool; Williamstown; City Loop
On-board services
Disabled access	Yes
Technical
Rolling stock	Comeng, Siemens, X'Trapolis 100
Track gauge	1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in)
Electrification	1500 V DC overhead
Track owner(s)	VicTrack
Route map
	Warrnambool line
	to Warrnambool
	Western line
	to ● Adelaide Parklands
	Williamstown line
	to ● Williamstown
	Newport–Sunshine line
	to Sunshine
	Western line
	to ● Southern Cross
	Deniliquin line
	●●●●●●●● via Middle Footscray
	North East and Western lines
	to ● Albury, Central (Sydney) & Adelaide Parklands
	Melbourne Metro Tunnel
	under construction
	Tocumwal line
	●●●● via Kensington
	Upfield line
	to ● Upfield
	Hurstbridge line
	to ● Hurstbridge & ● Mernda
	Multiple lines
	●●●●●●●●●● via Richmond

The Werribee railway line is a commuter rail passenger train service in Melbourne, Australia, operating between Werribee in the western suburbs to Flinders Street in the central business district. The line traverses the flat plains of Melbourne's western suburbs, and after leaving Footscray, has no significant earthworks. The area around the outer end of the line has seen significant residential growth in recent years, resulting in strong patronage growth. It is part of Melbourne's metropolitan rail network operated by Metro Trains.

Infrastructure

The Werribee line consists of multiple tracks, shared with other lines, from the City Loop until South Kensington, after which it becomes double track. From Newport South Junction, which is about a kilometre after Newport, the two tracks are signalled for bi-directional operation, although it is very rare for trains to use the possibility of right-hand running. About one and a half kilometres from Newport South, the Altona branch diverges at Altona Junction. It is a single-track branch, apart from a passing loop at Westona, and rejoins the main line at Laverton.

Automatic block signalling applies to Newport South, situated at the Champion Road level crossing, and from Newport South through to Werribee (and then all the way to Geelong), the line is controlled by automatic and track control safeworking, both via Westona and the main line. Terminating facilities for trains are provided at Newport and Laverton. Newport is also the location of the Newport Workshops, formerly the main workshops of the Victorian Railways. Stabling facilities for suburban trains are provided at Newport Workshops, and trains are also stabled overnight in the platform at Werribee.

Next generation passenger information display screens (PIDS) have been installed at most stations along the Werribee Line, apart from South Kensington, Aircraft and Spotswood.[1]

Services

There are 2 predominant stopping patterns on the Werribee Line, Local and Limited Express. All services travel direct to and from Flinders Street and do not use the City Loop.[2]

Local (Stopping all Stations)

Trains stop at all stations on the Werribee Line. Combined with stopping all stations trains on the Williamstown line, stations between Newport and Flinders Street enjoy double frequency (Trains every 10 minutes) during the day.[3] Weekday daytime trains terminate at Laverton. The average journey time from Flinders Street to Laverton is 35 minutes, and to Werribee is about 47-50 minutes.

Limited Express

Operates in both directions during the daytime and peak hours on weekdays. Trains stop at Flinders Street, Southern Cross, North Melbourne, Footscray, Newport, Laverton, and all stations between Laverton and Werribee. The average journey time between Flinders Street and Werribee for limited express trains is around 37-39 minutes.

Station List

Legend - Stations

◼ 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

● - All Trains Stop
| - Trains Pass and Don't Stop

Werribee Line
Station	Local	Limited Express
◼ Flinders Street	●	●
◼ Southern Cross	●	●
◼ North Melbourne	●	●
South Kensington	\|	\|
◼ Footscray	●	●
Seddon	●	\|
◻ Yarraville	●	\|
Spotswood	●	\|
◼ Newport	●	●
Seaholme	●	\|
Altona	●	\|
Westona	●	\|
◼ Laverton	●	●
Aircraft	●	●
◼ Williams Landing	●	●
◻ Hoppers Crossing	●	●
◼ Werribee	●	●

Note:

Certain trains operate with altered stopping patterns or may terminate and start at intermediate stations[4]
Weekend night network trains do not stop at Southern Cross

Rolling Stock

A Comeng train on an Express Werribee Service. Picture taken on the Werribee line near the site of the former Galvin railway station

All trains are operated as 6 car trains

History

Early in 1857, the Geelong and Melbourne Railway Company opened the Werribee to Little River section of the line they were building between Newport and Geelong, then in June of that year, opened the section between Werribee and a temporary station near Newport, known as Greenwich. 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 was sufficiently advanced to allow the Geelong trains to run to the terminus at Williamstown Pier, so Greenwich was closed and a connection was made to the Williamstown line towards Williamstown. From Williamstown Pier, passengers could connect to a ferry across Hobsons Bay to Port Melbourne.

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

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. This branch was opened by the Altona and Laverton Bay Freehold and Investment Co. Ltd. in order to encourage people to buy their land in the area. However, the line closed less than two years later, in August 1890.

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

The VR electrified the Williamstown line and the branch to Williamstown Racecourse in August 1920. In October 1924 the VR took total control of the Altona Beach line, and electrified it in October 1926.

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 Williamstown Racecourse branch closed in May 1950.

Duplication of the Werribee line occurred in the 1960s, the first section being between a crossing loop named Rock Loop and Laverton in May 1965, followed by Newport B Box to Rock Loop in October 1967, and Laverton to Werribee in September 1968. The Altona branch was converted to Automatic Block Signalling in October 1967.

First announced by the then Transport Minister, Joe Rafferty in 1977,[5] electrification was extended from Altona Junction to Werribee in September 1983, whilst in January 1985, the Altona line was extended to Westona. 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 on the Werribee line. Initially almost every Werribee suburban train ran via Westona, but a complete timetable re-write in May 2011 has seen this section converted to a separate service most of the time.[6] The 2011 timetable rewrite introduced the controversial[7] practice of having Altona Loop trains run as a shuttle between Laverton and Newport during off peak hours. The shuttle was finally ended in August 2017, with direct services to and from the city being reinstated[8] to the Altona Loop.

Up until June 2015, Geelong and Warrnambool Line services ran on the Werribee Line to Southern Cross. These V/Line service stopped at Werribee, Newport and North Melbourne before arriving at Southern Cross. With the completion of the Regional Rail Link, Geelong and Warrnambool service were rerouted through 90 km of new track constructed in West Werribee.[9] Separating suburban and regional trains has reduced overcrowding, increased capacity for new services and improved service reliability on the Werribee Line.[10] A new bus link was introduced which linked Werribee Station with Geelong trains at Wyndham Vale Station. However, the Werribee line is still available to be used by V/Line services in special circumstances should the Regional Rail Link lines be out of action for some reason.

The 2021 January Timetable rewrite removed all Werribee Line services from the City Loop. Trains now run direct to Flinders Street. Peak hour frequencies were also made more consistent for the Altona Loop and Main Line. [11][12]

Level Crossing Removals

As part of the Level Crossing Removal Authority's (LXRA's) Western Package, 5 level crossings along the Werribee Line have been earmarked for removal.[13] The crossings identified for removal are:

Kororoit Creek Road, Williamstown North (Completed July 2018)
Aviation Road, Laverton (Completed September 2019)
Old Geelong Road, Hoppers Crossing
Cherry Street, Werribee
Werribee Street, Werribee

Kororoit Creek Road[14]

The Altona Loop section of the Werribee Line intersects Kororoit Creek Road in Williamstown North. The crossing is located in an industrial area. A rail bridge was constructed over the roadway, allowing trains to pass overhead. The project scope also included partial duplication of the Altona Loop,[15] allowing trains to pass on the Altona Loop without affecting the main line. The crossing was fully removed by July 2018.[16]

Aviation Road[17]

Prior to removal, the Werribee Line intersected Aviation road on the citybound side of Aircraft station. The crossing created significant delays during peak hours as it intersected a roundabout which connected Aircraft Village, Laverton North and the Princes Freeway (M1).

The Aviation Road level crossing was removed using a Road Bridge which raised the road above the tracks. The new road bridge improved connectivity between Laverton North, Aircraft Village and the adjacent RAAF base. Bike lanes have also been provided on the rail bridge. The project was completed by the end of September 2019, months ahead of schedule.[18]

The Level Crossing Removal Authority will also partially rebuild Aircraft station in the future when removing the other 3 crossings on the Werribee line. This is to minimise disruption to train services. Planned improvements include the redesign of the station forecourt, construction of a new pedestrian underpass which will connect the forecourt to the platforms, and the RAAF base.[19]

Old Geelong Road[20]

A road bridge will be constructed to separate Old Geelong Road from the rail line.[20] Hoppers Crossing Station will also be upgraded with a pedestrian overpass.[21]

Cherry Street[22]

Constructing a road bridge is the preferred option for removing the crossing.

Werribee Street[23]

The Werribee Street level crossing was removed using a rail bridge in January 2021.[24][21]

References

Daniel (15 October 2018). "Passenger Information Displays (PIDs) at stations are evolving". Daniel Bowen. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
Victoria, Public Transport. "New timetable train line information". Public Transport Victoria. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
"More Train Services for a Growing Melbourne". Premier of Victoria. 4 June 2018. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
Victoria, Public Transport. "Werribee Line". Public Transport Victoria. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
"Works". Newsrail. Australian Railway Historical Society. October 1977. p. 228.
Daniel (29 March 2011). "Quick review of the new Metro timetables". Daniel Bowen. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
Butt, Adam Carey, Craig (8 July 2013). "A tale of two rail lines: Altona slumps while Werribee soars". The Age. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
"DIRECT CITY SERVICES FOR ALTONA LOOP RESTORED, AS PROMISED | Jill Hennessy". Retrieved 18 December 2019.
"Victoria's new regional rail link opens to cater for busy western suburbs". ABC News. 14 June 2015. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
"Commuters moving to new stations". Herald Sun. 17 August 2015. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
Victoria, Public Transport. "New timetable train line information". Public Transport Victoria. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
"New train timetables confirmed for January". Daniel Bowen. 1 December 2020. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
"Western Package Community Update – May 2017 | Level Crossing Removal Project". levelcrossings.vic.gov.au. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
"Kororoit Creek Road, Williamstown North | Level Crossing Removal Project". levelcrossings.vic.gov.au. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
"Work begins on Melbourne's Level Crossing Removal Project". Global Railway Review. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
"Altona Loop Returns Early With Another Level Crossing Gone". Premier of Victoria. 23 July 2018. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
"Aviation Road, Laverton | Level Crossing Removal Project". levelcrossings.vic.gov.au. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
"Victoria marks level crossing removal milestone". Infrastructure Magazine. 30 September 2019. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
"Aviation Road, Laverton". Your Level Crossing. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
"Old Geelong Road, Hoppers Crossing | Level Crossing Removal Project". levelcrossings.vic.gov.au. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
"Designs confirmed for Werribee Street and Old Geelong Road | Level Crossing Removal Project". levelcrossings.vic.gov.au. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
"Cherry Street, Werribee | Level Crossing Removal Project". levelcrossings.vic.gov.au. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
"Werribee Street, Werribee | Level Crossing Removal Project". levelcrossings.vic.gov.au. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
"Werribee Street level crossing gone for good | Level Crossing Removal Project". levelcrossings.vic.gov.au. Retrieved 31 January 2021.

External links

Statistics and detailed schematic map at the VicSig enthusiast website
History of the Geelong line (of which the Werribee line is a subset)