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Hybrid trains touted as a solution to west Melbourne's transport woes
🇦🇺 Australia /Energy & Infrastructure

Hybrid trains touted as a solution to west Melbourne's transport woes

From ABC Australia · () English

Summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • Victoria's opposition has promised A$1.7 billion for 25 hybrid diesel-electric trains on Melbourne's Melton and Wyndham Vale lines if it wins the November election.
  • The proposal aims to provide larger and more frequent suburban services while the state government continues investigating electrification.
  • Melton station has reopened after an upgrade, but residents say the growing area also needs new stations and better public transport infrastructure.

Victoria's opposition says hybrid trains could offer Melbourne's western suburbs a faster answer than waiting for long-promised electrification. The Victorian Liberals have pledged A$1.7 billion for 25 hybrid diesel-electric trains on the Melton and Wyndham Vale lines if elected in November.

We believe hybrid suburban trains is the fastest, quickest, and cheapest way to solve the problem of getting the Melton and Wyndham Vale lines electrified.

— Matthew GuyVictoria's opposition transport spokesman explained why the Liberals support hybrid trains.

The lines currently carry smaller V/Line trains. The state government says it will introduce higher-capacity V/Line trains on the Melton line next year while it continues investigating electrification. Opposition transport spokesman Matthew Guy argues that hybrid trains could use the existing track and eventually travel through Melbourne's City Loop.

Guy described the government's plan for nine-car V/Line trains as inadequate for one of Australia's fastest-growing areas. He said the trains were designed for country services, while residents in the western suburbs needed suburban trains with greater capacity and more frequent service.

Or at least getting suburban trains to where people need them.

— Matthew GuyGuy added that hybrid trains could provide suburban services before full electrification.

The upgraded Melton station opened as the debate continued. Its elevated platforms can accommodate more V/Line carriages from next year, but local residents say the wider transport network has not kept pace with population growth. Melton council recorded an average of 38 new residents a day during 2024-25, making it Australia's fastest-growing area.

The nine car V-Line trains the government are announcing is just substandard surface.

— Matthew GuyGuy criticized the government's planned higher-capacity V/Line service.

Residents are also waiting for promised electrification and new stations in Mt Atkinson and Thornhill Park. Mt Atkinson resident Jaksha Shah said the community had bought into plans for a nearby station and other facilities, but those promises had not matched daily reality. Infrastructure Victoria has said hybrid trains already operate in parts of Europe, but it does not regard them as the best long-term solution for Melbourne's west.

What was the future I bought into and what is the reality I am living in?

— Jaksha ShahA Mt Atkinson resident described the gap between promised development and current transport access.
About this summary

Originally published by ABC Australia. Summarized and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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