Weekend trains to run every 20 minutes

THE Victorian government has announced a new V/Line timetable for the Geelong Line, with trains to run every 20 minutes on weekends.

The timetable will take effect on December 1, and will deliver 68 new weekend services for Geelong Line passengers, while also extending 20 existing weekend services from Wyndham Vale through to Waurn Ponds.

On weekdays, more services will be extended to South Geelong, Marshall and Waurn Ponds stations.

There will be changes to Wyndham Vale services, with nine-carriage VLocity trains now running on two morning services and one afternoon peak service, providing more capacity for passengers.

The new services follows the completion of Stage 2 of the Geelong Line Upgrade, which delivered new platforms at Marshall and South Geelong stations, along with track and signaling upgrades between Geelong and Waurn Ponds stations.

The completion of the Geelong and Warrnambool line upgrades included replacing about 70,000 sleepers between Waurn Ponds and Warrnambool, duplicating 8km of track, and removing and upgrading 67 level crossings.

The Victorian government says more than 33 million train trips have been taken across the network and more than $90 million saved since it introduced the regional fare cap last year.

Information on the new timetables will be available from Friday, November 1.

Geelong MP Christine Couzens said the new timetable would deliver a range of new travel options for regional passengers across the Geelong Line.

“We’re delivering new services for the Geelong Line, increasing weekend services, extending weekday services and easing congestion on the peak afternoon service to Geelong, which will further improve Geelong’s train transport network.”

Lara MP Ella George, Member for Western Victoria Gayle Tierney and Bellarine MP Alison Marchant also welcomed the extra services.

For more information, head to ptv.vic.gov.au or vline.com.au or phone 1800 800 007.