The Allan Labor Government is ramping up train services across regional Victoria, delivering 50 new or extended weekend services on the Ballarat, Ararat, Warrnambool, and Bendigo lines.
Premier Jacinta Allan and Minister for Public and Active Transport Gabrielle Williams announced the major timetable boost in Ballarat, promising passengers more frequent trains for weekend shopping, dining, and trips to the footy.
Premier Allan emphasised the government’s commitment to improving regional travel, stating,
“We made regional travel more affordable for Victorian families through the regional fare cap, and now we’re delivering more services to four regional rail lines.”
From 13 April, the Ballarat Line will see a major uplift, with 33 additional weekend services. Trains will run every 40 minutes between 8:00 am and 9:00 pm—an unprecedented frequency for the line. To complement this, most connecting bus services will also increase to 40-minute intervals, ensuring smoother travel across the region.
Ararat Line passengers will benefit from two new return services on weekends, including a 9:15 pm Saturday train from Southern Cross—perfect for those catching AFL twilight matches or spending an evening in Melbourne.
The Bendigo Line will receive five new weekend services, including late-night trains from Melbourne, allowing passengers to enjoy the city’s nightlife. Additionally, five popular services will be upgraded from three to six-carriage VLocity trains, increasing capacity for locals and visitors alike.
Warrnambool Line passengers will see four extra weekend services starting 14 April, adding to the network’s growing popularity since the introduction of the regional fare cap. For the first time, all weekend and weekday services on the line will be operated by modern VLocity trains.
Geelong commuters are also set to benefit, with two morning services extended to Waurn Ponds Station on weekdays, offering more flexibility for local passengers.
Minister Williams echoed this sentiment, highlighting the surge in public transport use:
“More regional Victorians are choosing to take public transport than ever before thanks to our cheaper fares policy—so we’re catering to this extra demand with more trains, more often.”
These additions mean nearly 150 of the 200 extra weekend services promised at the 2022 election have now been delivered. Since the fare cap was introduced in March 2023, almost 40 million train and coach trips have been taken on the V/Line network, with passengers saving more than $114 million.
With increased services, modern trains, and cheaper fares, the government is continuing its push to make regional travel more convenient and accessible than ever.
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