People living in the western suburbs of Melbourne will receive a significant boost to the transport sector, with the Victorian government embarking on a series of upgrades to alleviate daily commutes.
These projects are among the general Big Build initiatives, which involve improvements to rail lines, the installation of new roads, and the extension of tunnels to offer more reliable and faster travel into the city centre.
Key Projects Underway
One of the foundations of such work is the Melton Line Upgrade. This is worth 650 million and is aimed at increasing the line’s capacity by 50% to serve the rising regions such as Caroline Springs, Deer Park, and Melton. It has started construction, and the key works are focused on extending platforms to serve nine-car VLocity trains beginning in 2027.
There are also future electrification preparations that will give the line the capacity to accommodate increased demand as the population in the west grows rapidly. New rail bridges at Coburns Road and Exford Road in Melton, and road bridges at Ferris Road and Hopkins Road in Truganina, will upgrade the dangerous level crossings to reduce congestion and ensure the safety of people using the road and pedestrians.
Additionally, the Metro Tunnel will open in late 2025. All trains travelling along the Sunbury Line, which is a critical artery for west commuters, will traverse through the new 9km twin tunnels beneath the CBD as early as February 1, 2026.
This will be linked smoothly to the Cranbourne and Pakenham lines and will add high-capacity signalling services on the turn-up-and-go during the high usage hours. This will increase access to the city centre by adding five underground stations, such as Arden and Anzac, offering more travel destinations in addition to tram/train interchanges, which will reduce congestion on existing routes.
January Construction Blitz and Development Temporaries
A 14-day construction blitz, between January 10 and 23, 2026, on segments of the Ballarat and Geelong lines is planned to speed up the progress. At this time, trains will be replaced by coaches and buses, crews will extend the platform, signalling will be improved around the new Cobblebank stabling yard, and progress will be made on the new Melton Station, with four platforms and free of boom gates, on opening later this year. The new station at West Tarneit shall also be improved with a bus exchange, a 400-space car park and an accessible underpass.
Other temporary services are bus substitutions on the Werribee, Williamstown and Sunbury lines in the evenings in early January to carry out maintenance. To reduce inconvenience, public transport will be free on weekends in January, and the West Gate tunnel will be toll-free on weekends, thus offering an alternative to the West Gate Bridge.
Daily Commute Policies
These additions will improve the day-to-day lives of thousands of people living in western suburbia. The frequency and capacity of trains could be strengthened so that, when people go to the CBD, the journey time could be reduced to 20 minutes during the busiest hours.
Better connectivity will help the economic development of regions such as Melton and Sunbury, where a population explosion has placed pressure on the existing infrastructure. Motorists, cyclists and pedestrians will also benefit from better roads and reduced level crossings.
According to government officials, short-term inconveniences are expected, but the long-term benefits in efficiency and reliability will make the west of Melbourne a better place to live. As works increase this summer, 2026 is an important year in the region’s transport evolution.