Werribee line

This article is about the Metro Trains Melbourne service. For the physical railway itself, see Warrnambool railway line.

Werribee
Railways in Melbourne
Comeng 587M awaits to commence a Frankston via Southern Cross-Flinders Street service at Werribee station Platform 1.
Werribee station, the terminus of the Werribee line, with a Comeng train awaiting to commence a Frankston via City service, April 2024
Overview
Service typeCommuter rail
SystemMelbourne railway network
StatusOperational
LocaleMelbourne, Victoria, Australia
Predecessor
  • Geelong (1857–?)
  • Williamstown Racecourse (1885–1920)
  • Altona Beach (1888–1890)
  • Altona Beach (1917–1926)
  • Williamstown Racecourse ^ (1920–1940)
  • Altona Beach ^ (1926–1938)
  • Altona ^ (1938–1985)
^ are electric services
First service25 June 1857; 167 years ago (1857-06-25)
Current operator(s)Metro Trains
Former operator(s)
Route
TerminiFlinders Street (some continue to Frankston)
Werribee
Stops17 (excluding City Loop stations)
Distance travelled32.9 km (20.4 mi) (via Altona)
Average journey time39 minutes (direct)
49 minutes (via Altona)
Service frequency
  • 20 minutes weekdays to Laverton via Altona
  • 4–15 minutes weekdays peak to Werribee direct
  • 20 minutes weekdays off-peak to Werribee direct
  • 20 minutes at nights and weekends to Werribee via Altona
  • 60 minutes early weekend mornings to Werribee via Altona
  • Extra frequency daytime between Flinders Street and Newport in combination with Williamstown line
  • Certain trains continue or start from Frankston
Line(s) usedAltona, Warrnambool
Technical
Rolling stockComeng, Siemens, X'Trapolis 100
Track gauge1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in)
Electrification1500 V DC overhead
Track owner(s)VicTrack

The Werribee line is a commuter railway line in the city of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.[1] Operated by Metro Trains Melbourne, it is the city's ninth longest metropolitan railway line at 32.9 kilometres (20.4 mi).

The line runs from Flinders Street station in central Melbourne to Werribee station in the south-west, serving 17 stations via Footscray, Newport, and Altona.[2] The line operates for approximately 19 hours a day (from approximately 5:00 am to around 12:00 am) with 24 hour service available on Friday and Saturday nights. During peak hour, headways of up to 5–20 minutes are operated with services every 20–30 minutes during off-peak hours.[3] Trains on the Werribee line run with a two three-car formations of Comeng, Siemens Nexas, and X'Trapolis 100 trainsets.[4]

Part of the line initially opened in 1857 by the Geelong and Melbourne Railway Company. The line was progressively finished within the next two years, allowing trains to travel from Melbourne to Geelong. 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.[5] The construction of these lines played important parts in the development of Geelong and Melbourne's west during the 19th and 20th centuries, with the line continuing to be an important asset in the 21st century.

Since the 2010s, due to the heavily utilised infrastructure of the Werribee line, improvements and upgrades have been made. Works have included replacing sleepers, upgrading signalling technology, the removal of level crossings, planning for new infrastructure, the introduction of new rolling stock, and station accessibility upgrades.[6]

  1. ^ "Werribee Line". Public Transport Victoria. Archived from the original on 7 September 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  2. ^ "Metro's paper timetables mess". Daniel Bowen. 3 September 2017. Archived from the original on 9 December 2022. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
  3. ^ "New timetable train line information – Public Transport Victoria". 1 March 2021. Archived from the original on 1 March 2021. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
  4. ^ Carey, Adam (7 November 2014). "Trains are working better but seating not guaranteed". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 6 February 2023. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference guiney2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Victoria’s Big Build (29 November 2022). "Western Rail Plan". Victoria’s Big Build. Archived from the original on 2 March 2021. Retrieved 8 May 2023.