WERRIBEE line commuters will benefit from the $100 million set aside in the state budget to improve services on the other side of town.
While most of the money announced on May 7 will be spent on the Frankston line, Public Transport Victoria has confirmed that part of the funding will be used to improve Werribee and Williamstown services.
A PTV spokeswoman said the Werribee, Williamstown and Frankston lines were connected, meaning they had to be upgraded at the same time. She said works on the Werribee and Williamstown lines would include signalling upgrades, installation of mirrors on platforms and CCTV systems, and upgrades to track and power substations.
It’s hoped the works will reduce delays on the lines, which were hit with four track and signal faults in eight days earlier this month.
On May 2, commuters faced delays of up to 40 minutes because of a signal fault at Laverton, while another signalling fault at South Kensington on May 6 resulted in delays of up to 15 minutes. Passengers were again kept waiting on May 7 and 9 after track faults were detected at Seaholme and Newport.
The improvements will allow the new X’Trapolis trains to run on the Werribee and Williamstown lines.
Public Transport Minister Terry Mulder said the new trains were faster and more reliable than older trains operating on the network.
A PTV spokeswoman said it was not known when the improvements would begin because the department was still developing a schedule of works for the project.
