http://www.premier.vic.gov.au/component/content/article/11708.html
Media release
From the Premier of Victoria
Monday, 30 August, 2010
NEW TIMETABLE TO DELIVER MORE TRAIN SERVICES
A new train timetable will deliver 285 more weekly services for Melbourne's rail network from 10 October 2010.
Premier John Brumby and Public Transport Minister Martin Pakula today announced the new services and said they were being delivered as a result of infrastructure improvements, as well as the eleven new X'Trapolis trains that are now operating on the network.
"These new services are the latest step in the Government's $38 billion Victorian Transport Plan, delivering new trains, new tracks and more services," Mr Brumby said.
"Our Government is determined to deliver on our commitment to provide a better transport network and this new timetable, and the 285 new services will make a huge improvement for rail passengers.
"Together with rail operator Metro, we've worked to allocate new peak services to the Werribee, Sydenham and Craigieburn lines.
"There is also a fantastic package of off-peak improvements for Frankston line passengers, both during the day and at night.
"We now have eleven of our 38 new X'Trapolis trains operating on the network. The first five of these trains allowed us to introduce 211 new and extended weekly services earlier this year on the Pakenham, Cranbourne and Frankston lines.
"The new services, together with the operating changes we made on those lines, have been successful at balancing loads and improving performance."
The 16 per cent increase in capacity on the Dandenong Corridor during peak periods exceeded increases in passenger loads and therefore created additional space for passengers.
Research shows the number of services from 7.30am to 9.30am exceeding 798 passengers dropped from 12 in May to five in August 2010. In the evening, the number of services from 3.30pm to 7.00pm exceeding 798 passengers dropped from 12 to four.
The 17 per cent increase in capacity on the Frankston line during peak periods exceeded increases in passenger loads and therefore created additional space for passengers.
The number of services from 7.30am to 9.30am exceeding 798 passengers remained at four. In the evening, the number of services from 3.30pm to 7.00pm exceeding 798 passengers dropped from six to one.
Mr Brumby said the Government was delivering improvements to the system and this was set to continue with the extra services and new timetable, and with new timetables set to follow next year as more trains come onto the tracks.
Mr Pakula said a key part of introducing the new timetable was the $93 million Laverton Rail Upgrade Project which, together with the larger train fleet, has enabled the introduction of new services on the Werribee line.
"All track works are now complete and the benefits of the project are starting to be realised. By constructing a third platform and an extra kilometre of track, we've removed the bottleneck between the Altona Loop and Laverton Station," he said.
From 10 October, two new morning peak services will run every weekday from Laverton Station into the city. These new services will also allow two existing Werribee line services to run express, delivering shorter travel times for Werribee passengers.
In the evening peak, two new services will leave every day from Flinders Street Station and terminate at Laverton, allowing two Werribee-bound services to run express.
There will be two new morning peak services every day on the Sydenham line, with one new service in the evening peak every day. There's also a new after school service running from Flinders Street to St Albans. These new services are great news for a line which is known to be one of the most popular in Melbourne.
There will be one new morning peak service every day on the Craigieburn line, as well as one evening peak service every day which will run from Flinders Street to Broadmeadows.
On the Frankston line, off-peak services will be upgraded to a frequency of every 10 minutes from 9am to 4.30 pm, an improvement from the existing 15 minute service. There will also be a new 20 minute frequency in the post PM peak, from 7.00 pm until 10.00 pm every weekday. This is an improvement from the existing 30 minute frequency and great news for people who travel home late from the city.
Mr Pakula said the new trains and the extra services would make significant improvements to Melbourne's rail network.
"We are building a better transport system so people can spend more time with family and friends and less time travelling to and from work," Mr Pakula said.