In short:
Major transport works are underway in Tarneit, including construction of the new West Tarneit Station designed to relieve overcrowding and parking pressure at the existing Tarneit Station. The project targets one of Melbourne’s fastest-growing suburbs, where public transport demand has long outpaced infrastructure.
Infrastructure Rush After Years Lagging
The Government has today announced a significant set of transport infrastructure upgrades for Melbourne’s rapidly growing western suburbs — a region long dogged by capacity constraints, patchy public transport access and local anger over parking shortfalls.
From tomorrow evening, crews will operate around the clock to construct West Tarneit Station, extending platforms, building new station canopies and drilling critical infrastructure beneath the rail line. Once complete, the station will serve the Geelong Line later this year, featuring two platforms, an accessible underpass, a four-bay bus interchange and a 400-space car park.
The new station is designed to alleviate pressure on nearby Tarneit Station, renowned as the busiest regional station outside Southern Cross — a chronic pinch point for commuters who often arrive early to secure limited parking bays. The expansion reflects broader frustrations residents have voiced as parking at station car parks fills rapidly, forcing many to seek alternative — sometimes illegal — parking in surrounding streets.
Transport Infrastructure Minister Gabrielle Williams confirmed that a 14-day construction blitz will begin this weekend on the Melton Line, marking a major push to boost rail capacity, improve reliability and expand access for commuters.
Crews will also extend platforms at Caroline Springs and Deer Park stations as part of the broader Melton Line Upgrade, allowing longer nine-car VLocity trains from 2027 and increasing peak passenger capacity by up to 50 per cent. Signalling works will support the new Cobblebank stabling yard, future-proofed for eventual electrification of the Melton line.
Work continues to eliminate four dangerous and congested level crossings in the west — constructing new rail and road bridges at Coburns and Exford roads in Melton, and Ferris Road and Hopkins Road in Truganina — alongside a modernised Melton Station set to open later this year.
The construction push comes amid longstanding transport frustrations in the west, where residents have repeatedly raised concerns about public transport access and parking infrastructure lagging behind population growth. Community advocacy groups have documented commuter challenges across the region’s western suburbs — from limited feeder buses that leave residents reliant on cars to constrained station car parks that fill well before peak trains depart.
Despite these pressures, state authorities say the works have been carefully programmed to minimise disruption. During the blitz, coach replacements will run on sections of the Geelong and Ballarat lines from 8.00pm Saturday 10 January until last service Friday 23 January. Passengers are advised to allow extra travel time and check the Transport Victoria website for service updates across multiple regional lines.
For commuters who’ve endured overcrowding, inconsistent bus links and parking frustrations for years, today’s announcement represents a welcome — if long overdue — investment in the backbone of western Victoria’s transport network.
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