Western Rail Plan
Our ask:
We are calling for investment in Melbourne’s rail network with new train stations and line electrification to attract investment, unlocking job opportunities to get people to jobs, increasing productivity and reducing disadvantage.
Why it matters
Commuter demand in Melbourne’s West has outgrown the current V/Line network. Passengers from Melton and Wyndham account for 40% of all V/Line boards outside of Southern Cross, and trains from Geelong and Ballarat reach capacity before reaching Sunshine and entering metropolitan Melbourne.
Between the cities of Melton and Wyndham, population is projected to nearly double over the next 20 years, from 596,703 in 2026 to over 940,000 by 2046.
Planning for the Western Rail Plan has been underway for too long. Residents of Melton and Wyndham Vale need investment in electrification now — so they have the same access to public transport as other Melburnians, to get to work, education and services safely and efficiently.
What LeadWest is advocating for
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Electrification of the Melton and Wyndham Vale rail lines.
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New train stations at Mt Atkinson and Thornhill Park.
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Two more tracks to provide four tracks from Sunshine to Caroline Springs to allow for faster Geelong, Ballarat and Wyndham Vale V/Line services.
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Works to commence concurrently with the Sunshine Station Sup Hub upgrade for services to be available from 2030 when Sunshine Station is completed.
Current funding commitments:
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Australian Government: $30 million (planning - 2018)
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Victorian Government: $100 million (planning - 2018)
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Australian Government and Victorian Government: $152 million (planning for Melton line electrification - 2026)
Key project focus
Electrification of the Melton Line
The City of Melton is forecast to deliver 100,000+ new dwellings over 25 years, supporting more than 455,980 residents — largely reliant on the Ballarat rail corridor.
2024–25 patronage growth
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Ballarat Line: +2.12 million passengers
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Melton stations combined: +684,200 passengers
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Melton Station: 806,050 annual passengers (5th busiest regional station in Victoria).
With electrification and two new stations – Mt Atkinson and Thornhill Park – the projected benefits by 2041 include:
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12,000 fewer cars per day
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15,147 fewer daily car trips (mainly in Melton)
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77,300 fewer private vehicle kilometres travelled per day
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33,000 daily station entries/exits
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$236,000 daily reduction in congestion costs
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27% increase in public transport use (15,000 additional commuters).
Source: Melton City Council, Advocacy Priorities 2026
Victoria’s Infrastructure Strategy 2025–2055
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Infrastructure Victoria’s 30-year strategy highlights the need to deliver the electrification of the Melton line by 2030 and recommends the electrification works should coincide with the upgrade to Sunshine Station.