In line with the rest of the rail network, the Werribee and Williamstown lines have experienced a massive growth of patronage over the last few years. A recent timetable change has helped to alleviate this, but infrastructure limitations are hampering reliability and causing the old overcrowding issues to resurface. Smart Passengers proposes making minor changes to remove "pinch points" that restrict capacity, and introduce a new timetable with high frequency services running to a regular, easy-to-understand pattern, with fewer conflicts between trains, increasing reliability.

The project:

• Quadruplicate the track from Newport to Altona Junction, to ensure trains on the express route and the Altona route don't conflict
• Construct Newport West station at Maddox Road, according to the standards for stations rebuilt as part of the Caulfield project
• Duplicate the track from Altona Junction towards Altona to increase train capacity
• Upgrade track and signalling between Altona Junction and Altona to increase speed limit to 80km/h
• Grade separate level crossings at Champion, Maddox and Kororoit Creek Roads by elevating rail line

Project timeline:

• August-December 2013: Conduct feasibility study
• May 2014: Secure funding in State Budget
• July-December 2014: Community consultation
• January-April 2015: Conduct Detailed engineering study
• Anzac Day-Queens Birthday 2015: Grade separate Champion Road level crossing (between Newport and Altona Junction) by elevating rail line, with space for four suburban and two freight tracks
• December 2015-January 2016: Grade separate Maddox Road by elevating rail line, quadruplicate track from Newport to Altona Junction and build Newport West station
• Labour Day-Easter 2016: Duplicate track from Altona Junction to bridge over Melbourne Water drain to remove capacity pinch point; grade separate Kororoit Creek Road level crossing by elevating rail line
• May-June 2016: Finalise works

Space limits prevented the inclusion of the following details in the book "Transport Plan - An Alternative Option".

Track diagram - coming soon

These changes are required in order to provide track capacity needed for the increase in services outlined in the proposed 2020 timetable.