Network Development Plan – Metropolitan Rail
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The Network Development Plan – Metropolitan Rail was a long-term development plan for the rail network of Melbourne, Australia. It was written by Public Transport Victoria (PTV) and released to the public on 27 March 2013 under the Napthine government and received minor updates in 2016.[1]
Similar plans were intended to be released for regional rail, trams and buses. However, only the metropolitan rail aspect of the plan was released to the public by PTV. The Regional Network Development Plan was released by the Victorian Department of Transport in 2016.[2]
The primary aim of the metropolitan rail plan was to improve the efficiency, reliability and patronage of Melbourne's train network and transition it towards a rapid transit system. It set out a number of goals over four stages, to be carried out over 20 years. Then-CEO of PTV Ian Dobbs (whose contract was not renewed in 2015) estimated the whole plan would cost about $30 billion.[3]
In 2019 PTV was abolished as an independent, statutory government body and absorbed into the Victorian Department of Transport. The plan was influential on Melbourne's transport planning but does not represent current government policy.
Background
The Public Transport Development Authority, later trading as Public Transport Victoria, was established by the Victorian government under Premier Ted Baillieu with the intent of, among other things, planning and improving the operations of the rail network.[4]
Plan
Below is the initial timeline of Stages 1–4 of the Network Development Plan of Metropolitan Rail which was released in 2013
Stage 1: (Timeline 2012 – 2016)
This stage outlined immediate high priority goals to overcome urgent constraints, with a targeted completion date of 2016.[1] All projects listed in Stage 1 had been completed in 2022.
| Line(s) | Project name | Status | Starting date | Completion date | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Geelong / Ballarat / Bendigo | Regional Rail Link (including new stations at Tarneit and Wyndham Vale) | Completed | 2013 | 2015[5] | Plans to electrify Wyndham Vale Line. | |
| Mernda | Extension of the Epping line to South Morang | Completed | 2010 | 2012[6] | Line was later extended to Mernda in August 2018.[7][8] | |
| Sunbury | Electrification of Bendigo line to Sunbury | Completed | 2010 | 2012[9] | ||
| Geelong | Construction of Grovedale station in Grovedale (Geelong) on the Warrnambool Line | Completed | 2014 | 2014[10] | Renamed to Waurn Ponds. | |
| Werribee | Construction of Williams Landing station in Point Cook on the Werribee line | Completed | 2012 | 2013[11] | ||
| Frankston | Construction of Southland station adjacent to Westfield Southland on the Frankston line | Completed | 2016 | 2017[12] | ||
| Cranbourne | Construction of Lynbrook station in Lynbrook on the Cranbourne line | Completed | 2010 | 2012[13] | ||
| Pakenham | Construction of Cardinia Road station in Pakenham on the Pakenham line | Completed | 2010 | 2012[14] | ||
| Ballarat | Construction of Caroline Springs station in Ravenhall on the Ballarat line | Completed | 2016 | 2017[15] | Initially construction started on a single platform station; scope expanded to double platform station after Melton duplication announced[16] | |
| Hurstbridge | Hurstbridge line upgrade and new stabling facility at Eltham station | Completed | 2012 | 2013 | Included improved signalling between Eltham and Hurstbridge | |
| Pakenham / Cranbourne | Order 33 High Capacity Metro Trains | Completed | 2016 | 2016 | 65 trains ordered in September 2016 | |
| Sandringham | High capacity signalling trial on the Sandringham line | Completed | 2020 | 2022 | Trial announced for South Morang line in July 2017[17] | |
| 7 X'Trapolis 100 trains | Completed | 2015 | 2017 | |||
| 40 VLocity carriages | Completed | 2015 | 2018 | |||
Stage 2: (Timeline 2016 – 2022)
The second stage focused on creating a "metro-style" system by segregating operations and creating end-to-end lines, with a targeted completion date of 2022.[1] It is expected that most projects in stage 2 will be completed by 2025.
| Line(s) | Project name | Status | Starting date | Completion date | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunbury / Cranbourne / Pakenham | Metro Tunnel | Completed | 2015 | 2025 | Includes a turn back platform at West Footscray station.
Completion date is moved from 2026 to 2025.[24] The Metro Tunnel opened to the public on 30 November 2025 and is fully operational as of 1 February 2026.[25][26] | |
| Ballarat | Duplication of the Serviceton line between Caroline Springs and Melton | Completed | 2017 | 2021[27] | Includes upgrades of stations and passing loops along the Ballarat line. | |
| Cranbourne / Pakenham | Upgrades to the Dandenong rail corridor, including grade separations and signalling works | Completed | 2016 | 2018 | ||
| Hurstbridge | Duplication of the Hurstbridge line from Heidelberg to Rosanna | Completed | 2017 | 2018[28] | Done in conjunction with Level Crossing Removal Project. | |
| Delivery of initial order of 33 High Capacity Metro Trains, and the further order and delivery of 70 trains. | Completed | 2016 | 2024 | 65 trains ordered in September 2016.
Extended order to 70 trains in May 2021 for Airport rail link. Trains have been delivered, but Airport rail link continues to be paused.[29] | ||
| Ballarat | Construction of Cobblebank station near Melton | Completed | 2017 | 2019[30] | ||
| Wyndham Vale | New railway station at Black Forest Road near Wyndham Vale | Early Planning | 2018 | TBC | Part of the Western Rail Plan.
Western Rail Plan has not commenced past the early planning stage as of 2025. | |
| Major timetabling and operational changes to the network | Underway | 2025 | 2025 | Planned once Metro Tunnel opens in 2025. | ||
| Sandringham / Mernda / Hurstbridge / Sunbury | Installation of high-capacity signalling on Sandringham, Mernda & Hurstbridge lines and between Sunbury and South Yarra stations | Underway | 2020 | TBC | High-capacity signalling planned to be installed between West Footscray and Westall via Metro Tunnel.
High-capacity signalling planned to be extended from West Footscray to Ginifer when Airport rail link opens. High-capacity signalling not planned for Sandringham, Mernda and Hurstbridge lines.[31] | |
Stage 3: (Timeline 2022 – 2027)
This stage focuses on extending the network to growth areas and suburbs without railway access, and utilising the preceding growth in capacity. It is to be completed within 15 years, before 2027.
Some projects are planned to happen in the next decade. Some projects may be built in a different form of transit, such as Rowville line becoming a possible light rail corridor or Doncaster line becoming a proper bus rapid transit corridor.
Implementation of HCS across the network is uncertain as of 2023.
| Project name | Status | Starting date | Completion date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Melbourne Airport Rail Line | Planning | 2022 | Late 2033 | PTV Airport Rail Link study released in 2013 supported an Albion alignment.[32]
Federal government has committed another $2 billion for the project, with early works to begin near Sunshine station.[33] Victorian government, the Commonwealth and Melbourne Airport have formally committed to building Airport rail via the Albion alignment.[34] Completion date set to no earlier than late 2033 following lengthy negotiations between the Victorian government and Melbourne Airport regarding station placement.[34] |
| Doncaster Line | Doncaster Rail study completed in 2014 showed preferred rail alignment.
Excluded in the revised plan. | |||
| Rowville Line | Rowville study was completed in 2014, showing preferred alignment.
Light Rail to Rowville is currently being planned, however has been put on pause due to the Suburban rail loop stage 1 taking priority. Currently moved into Stage 6 of the revised plan | |||
| Melbourne Metro 2: A new tunnel between Clifton Hill & Southern Cross via Parkville | Doncaster Rail study addressed the need for this future tunnel
Currently split differently in the new revised plan in stages 4/5 | |||
| Electrification of the Serviceton Line from Sunshine to Melton | Early Planning | 2018 | TBC | Part of the Western Rail Plan.
Western Rail Plan has not commenced past the early planning stage as of 2024. Upgrades to Sunshine station, set to be completed by 2030, will prepare the Melton line for future electrification.[35] |
| Electrification of the Stony Point Line from Frankston to Baxter station | Business case released by both State and Feds governments. State government decided not to proceed with the project. | |||
| Duplication of the Cranbourne Line from Dandenong to Cranbourne | Completed | 2018 | 2021 | Construction brought forward to Stage 2[36] and being built in conjunction with Level Crossing Removal Project |
| Duplication of the Hurstbridge Line from Greensborough to Eltham | Completed | 2018 | 2023 | 950m of duplication from East of Montmorency station no longer being constructed to conserve endangered Eltham copper butterfly habitat[37] and construction brought forward to Stage 2 of the Plan |
| A Brand New Railway Station on Sayers Road in Tarneit | Early planning | 2018 | TBC | Part of the Western Rail Plan.
Western Rail Plan has not commenced past the early planning stage as of 2024. West Tarneit Station, near corner of Leakes and Davis Roads, is set to open in 2026.[38][39] Additional stations to Wyndham Vale (e.g Sayers Road, Black Forest Road) have not yet been announced. |
| A Brand New Railway Station in Truganina | Planning | 2022 | 2026 | Committed funding for early planning works for Truganina station in late 2022 |
| Order and Deliver of High Capacity Metro Trains | Underway | 2021 | TBC | Committed funding on 25 X-trapolis 2.0s instead of more HCMTs due to lack HCS expansion to the network. |
| High Capacity Signalling (Northern and Cross-City groups) | Uncertain about expansion of HCS outside the Metro Tunnel corridors. |
Stage 4: (Timeline 2027 – 2032)
The final stage involves further utilisation of extra capacity and preparing for future growth in Melbourne. The stage is to be carried out within 20 years, before 2032.[1]
The reconfiguration of the metropolitan rail network will create seven independently operated lines similar to other rapid transit systems
Some projects listed are planned to be completed in the next decade but are still in their early stages. As of April 2018,[update] most details about these projects are still unknown.
| Project name | Status | Start date | Completion date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quadruplication of the Lilydale line between Burnley and Camberwell | Currently moved into stage 3 of the revised plan as part of the Burnley Junction Rationalisation | |||
| Duplication of the Lilydale line between Mooroolbark and Lilydale | Currently moved into stage 3 of the revised plan | |||
| Duplication of the Werribee line between the Altona Loop/Werribee Junction and Seaholme | The loop has been partially duplicated as part of the Kororoit Creek Level Crossing Removal project.
Feasibility study was completed in 2018. | |||
| Electrification of the Warrnambool Railway Line from Sunshine to Geelong | Currently moved into stage 5 of the revised plan | |||
| Electrification of the North East line from Craigieburn to Wallan | ||||
| Extension of the South Morang line from South Morang to Mernda | Completed | 2015 | 2018[40] | Includes 2 new stations at Middle Gorge and Hawkstowe. |
| Extension of the South Morang line to Fishermans Bend, with the
Future potential to extend the railway in a tunnel under the Yarra River to Newport as the Metro Tunnel 2 Project |
Currently split differently in the new revised plan in stages 4/5 | |||
| Reconfiguration of the City Loop | Currently moved into stage 3 of the revised plan, will be done on completion on Metro 1 | |||
| High Capacity Signaling (Frankston and Glen Waverley/Alamein Groups) | ||||
| Extension from Werribee to Wyndham Vale | Early Planning | 2018 | TBC | Part of the Western Rail Plan.
Western Rail Plan has not commenced past the early planning stage as of 2024. |
2018 Transport for Victoria Plan
In October 2018, a Victorian Rail Plan prepared by Transport for Victoria (TFV) was leaked to the press, containing a similar staged approach to the PTV NDMPR. The plan, released during the campaign for that year's state election, caused some controversy, as government policy announcements did not align with the strategic priorities identified in the plan. The Suburban Rail Loop, in particular, did not appear, and the TFV plan was further criticised for failing to prioritise meaningful service increases for regional corridors in the earlier stages of the plan. Government representatives argued that the plan was an "internal working document" and not representative of government policy; Opposition politicians contended that the plan was representative of the government's priorities.[41][42]
Metro Tunnel Day One
The first stage of the TFV plan had an intended completion date of 2025, aligning with the start of service on the Metro Tunnel. Some of the projects are under construction.
| Project Name | Status | Starting date | Completion date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metro Tunnel | Completed | 2018 | 2025 | Includes a turn back platform at West Footscray station.
Completion date is moved from 2026 to 2025.[24] The Metro Tunnel opened to the public on 30 November 2025 and is fully operational as of 1 February 2026.[25][26] |
| Cranbourne Line Duplication | Completed | 2021 | 2022[36] | |
| Somerton Link (connecting Upfield Line to Craigieburn and Seymour lines) | TBD | |||
| Hurstbridge Line Upgrade Stage 2 (between Greensborough and Eltham) | Completed | 2018 | 2023 | 950m of duplication from East of Montmorency station no longer being constructed to conserve endangered Eltham copper butterfly habitat[37] |
| City Loop Reconfiguration | TBD |
|
Revised Plan Stages 3-6
Stage 3: (Timeline 2022 – 2027)
| Project name | Status | Starting date | Completion date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Melbourne Airport Rail Link | Planning | 2022 | Late 2033 | PTV Airport Rail Link study released in 2013 supported an Albion alignment.[32]
Federal government has committed another $2 billion for the project, with early works to begin near Sunshine station.[33] Victorian government, the Commonwealth and Melbourne Airport have formally committed to building Airport rail via the Albion alignment.[34] Completion date set to no earlier than late 2033 following lengthy negotiations between the Victorian government and Melbourne Airport regarding station placement.[34] |
| Burnley Junction Rationalisation | TBD | |||
| Melton Electrification and Quadruplication | Early Planning | 2018 | TBC | Part of the Western Rail Plan.
Western Rail Plan has not commenced past the early planning stage as of 2025. Upgrades to Sunshine station, set to be completed by 2030, will prepare the Melton line for future electrification.[35] |
| Wyndham Vale Electrification and Quadruplication | Early Planning | 2018 | TBC | Part of the Western Rail Plan.
Western Rail Plan has not commenced past the early planning stage as of 2025. |
| Waurn Ponds Duplication (between South Geelong and Waurn Ponds) | Construction | 2022 | 2024 | |
| Extension of Cranbourne line to Clyde | Early Planning | 2018 | TBC | Business case underway and has not been released yet as of 2023. |
| Electrification of Stony Point line to Baxter | TBD | Business case released by both State and Federal Governments. Federal funding axed in November 2023. | ||
| Duplication between Mooroolbark and Lilydale | TBD | |||
| Shepparton Line Upgrade - Stage 2 | Completed | 2021 | 2022 | A stage 3 was added to the project which was completed in 2023. |
| Bendigo Line Upgrade | Construction | 2020 | 2023 |
Stage 4: (Timeline 2027 – 2032)
| Project name | Status | Start date | Completion date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Melbourne Metro 2 - Western section (Tunnel from Newport to Parkville via Fishermans Bend and Southern Cross) | TBD | |||
| Laverton and Williamstown line upgrades | TBD | |||
| Extension of Wyndham Vale line to Black Forest Road and connection with Werribee line | Early Planning | 2018 | TBC | Part of the Western Rail Plan.
Western Rail Plan has not commenced past the early planning stage as of 2025. |
| Quadruplication from Sunshine to Watergardens | TBD | |||
| Electrification of Upfield line to Wallan via Somerton | TBD |
Stage 5
A timeframe for Stage 5 has not been published.[43]
| Project name | Status | Start date | Completion date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Melbourne Metro 2 - Eastern section | ||||
| New Branch from Mernda Line at Lalor to Wollert | ||||
| Electrification of Geelong line | ||||
| Additional stations on Deer Park–West Werribee railway line | West Tarneit Station, near corner of Leakes and Davis Roads, is set to open in 2026.[38][39] Additional stations to Wyndham Vale (e.g Sayers Road, Black Forest Road) have not yet been announced. | |||
| Barwon South West Line Intercity Upgrade | ||||
| Gippsland Line Intercity Upgrade | ||||
| Loddon Mallee Line Intercity Upgrade |
Stage 6
A timeframe for Stage 6 has not been published.[43]
| Project date | Status | Start date | Completion date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Additional Track Pair between South Yarra and Caulfield | ||||
| Additional Track Pair from Caulfield to Huntingdale | ||||
| New Branch Line to Rowville | ||||
| Additional Track Pair from Huntingdale to Dandenong | ||||
| Additional Track Pair from Deer Park to Melton | ||||
| Duplication from Bacchus Marsh to Ballarat | ||||
| Additional Track Pair from Flinders Street to Southern Cross |